What Is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual orientation is one of the major classifications of identity. We hear it discussed in everyday conversation and gone are the days that sexual orientation fits neatly into a dichotomy. In this blog, we’ll discuss sexual orientation overall, all the different ways people may identify, and why it is important to understand sexual orientation. What Is Sexual Orientation? Let’s start with the basics. Sexual orientation refers to how a person characterizes their sexuality. Sexual orientation is comprised of three distinct components: Identity Behavior Attraction Your identity is how you define yourself; for example, “I am gay.” Your behavior is how you act on your identity; for example, “I have sex with the same gender.” Your attraction is who you are sexually or romantically attracted to; for example, “I’m sexually attracted to the same gender.” Some people may or may not experience sexual attraction but they do experience a romantic attraction to the same or different gend...