Sexuality

Monosexuality:

Monosexual is an umbrella term that refers to identities that include sexual or romantic attraction to one gender. This includes sexualities such as homosexual (gay), and heterosexual (straight). The romantic counterpart is mono-romantic.

Gay:

Gay or homosexual describes someone who experiences attraction to members of the same gender. Some non-binary people use this label as well. It depends on the individual. The romantic counterpart is homoromantic.

Lesbian:

Lesbian typically refers to a gay woman or a woman who's attracted to women. Sometimes non-binary people use this label as well. It depends on the person and if they're comfortable with how the label describes them.

Straight:

Straight or heterosexual describes someone attracted to the sex opposite their own. The romantic counterpart is heteroromantic.

While there’s no straight flag because they’re typically used to unite and represent members of the LGBTQ+ community, there is the straight ally flag.

                       Multi-sexuality:

Multisexuality:

Multisexual is an umbrella term that refers to identities that include sexual or romantic attraction to more than one gender. Many sexualities such as pansexual, bisexual, and omnisexual fall under this term. Someone attracted to multiple genders doesn't have to be attracted to them equally. Someone can be attracted to one gender more than the others and still be attracted to multiple genders. The romantic counterpart is multi-romantic.

Pansexual:

Pansexual describes someone attracted to individuals without regard to gender. Some people describe it as an attraction to all genders. The romantic counterpart is panromantic.

Bisexual:

Bisexual refers to someone attracted to two or more genders. The romantic counterpart is biromantic.

Omnisexual:

Omnisexual describes someone attracted to all genders. The romantic counterpart is omni-romantic.

                       Asexuality:

Asexuality:

Asexual is an umbrella term that refers to identities that include little to no sexual attraction. This includes sexualities such as asexual, gray asexual, and demisexual. The romantic counterpart is aromantic, meaning little to no romantic attraction. Some asexual people are sex-repulsed, sex-indifferent, or sex-favorable. Terms such as these are used to describe their attitudes towards sexual intimacy and content despite their lack of attraction. 

Some asexual people feel little to no sexual attraction to other people and still decide to have sex. This could be for pleasure, having children, or for their partner. Some aren't comfortable with anything sexual, and some just set boundaries with potential partners. It all depends on the person.

Asexual:

Someone with little to no sexual attraction. The romantic counterpart is aromantic, or someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction.

Aroace: 

Someone who is aromantic and asexual

Demisexual:

Demisexual describes someone who doesn't develop sexual attraction to a person until they've formed a deep emotional bond. Unlike just wanting to get to know someone, there is no initial attraction to a person. Demisexual people may not experience things such as crushes on people they hardly know or sexual attraction to strangers. The romantic counterpart is demiromantic. 

Gray Asexual:

Gray asexual or gray sexual describes someone who only occasionally experiences sexual attraction. The difference between gray asexual and demisexual is they do not need an emotional bond to feel attraction. The romantic counterpart is gray aromantic or gray romantic.

                        Polyamory:

Polyamorous:

People who are polyamorous are people who engage in romantic and sexual relationships with multiple people at once, with the consent of every person involved. It’s not the same as cheating because everyone knows and agrees to the various relationships and rules set among each group. It’s up to the individual people. 

Sometimes every person in a polyamorous group will be in a collective relationship together and all date each other, and sometimes people have individual partners separate from their other partners. The nature of each relationship changes based on the person and group. It is not the same as polygamy where one person is married to several people at once (typically one man with many wives).

                   Unlabeled and Other Labels:

There are many other labels people use to describe themselves. There are also many labels that fall under these umbrella terms that aren't written about here, these are just some common labels. Some people are unlabeled or questioning, and some people use queer as their label. People who are unlabeled may not be comfortable with labels or feel like there's none that describes them. They may also be unsure about how to describe themselves and who they’re attracted to. Queer can be anyone who is not cisgender or heterosexual. People use whatever labels best describe the way they feel. There are many types of attractions, and many different ways people feel and act, and sometimes labeling them makes it easier for people to describe themselves to others.

Do you think you're part of the LGBTQ+ community?

 If you are a part of or think you might be part of the LGBTQ+ community, there are many people like you and resources for people like you. You can talk to friends and family members, or if it's unsafe to ask someone about it you can go to counselors or someone you trust for advice. If you feel alone in your feelings, there is a wide community that can likely relate to you and offers support if you reach out. Connecting to people similar to you creates a sense of acceptance and support for people who might have previously felt alienated. You can't control how you feel, but you can connect with people and accept yourself for who you are.