Sexual Orientation and Types of Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation Types

Knowing your right sexual orientation takes you a step closer to finding the right life partner. People at a young age (teenagers) often find themselves unsure of their sexual orientation.

Without proper guidance and knowledge, these young minds often sway in the wrong direction and can end up being depressed as well. They find themselves alone, confused, and not in the right place.

The world is opening up its arms and slowly even people in our country are coming out accepting who they are not worrying about anyone else’s opinion of them whatsoever.

This blog covers all that is known about Sexual Orientation, from its types to how you can know your sexual orientation and why it is so important after all.

What is Sexual Orientation?

A person enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attraction towards another person of the same or/and the opposite sex is called their sexual orientation.

Types of Sexual Orientation (LGBTQ)?

On a broad scale, we can categorize sexual orientation into two main groups i.e. monosexual and plurisexual.

Monosexual

Mono means one. People who are attracted to one gender, be it a gender similar to their own (homosexual) or a different gender (heterosexual) come under the Monosexual group.

A ) Homosexual: People that are romantically and physically attracted to people of the same sex are known as Homosexuals. Example: A person of the female/male gender attracted to other females/males respectively.

In Homosexuals, females attracted to females are commonly called Lesbians and Males attracted to males are called Gay. (Sometimes the term gay is used to describe homosexual individuals of either sex as well.)

B ) Heterosexual: People that are romantically and physically attracted to members of the opposite sex are known as Heterosexuals. Example: a person of the Male gender attracted to a person of the female gender and vice versa. Heterosexuals are commonly called “straight.”

Plurisexuality

Pluri means many. Plurisexuals are people that are attracted to many different genders. For example, a plurisexual person may self-identify as bisexual, pansexual, queer, or something else.

A ) Bisexual: People that are romantically and physically attracted to members of both sexes are known as bisexual. Example: a female attracted to both females as well as the male gender.

B ) Pansexual: Pan means all. People that are romantically and physically attracted to a variety of genders along the gender spectrum are known as pansexuals. These people are not limited by gender identity or biological sex when it comes to sexual attraction.

C ) Queer: When a person feels that none of the commonly known categories (straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or pansexual) truly encompass their sexual orientation or are too confining for them, they are termed as Queer. They cannot be identified under a certain label.

How To Know Your Sexual Orientation?

Medically speaking, experts believe that, in general, sexual orientation is not something that a person voluntarily chooses instead sexual orientation is just a natural part of who a person is.

For some people truly understanding their Sexual Orientation may take years or even a lifetime. It’s ok to question yourself and experiment around to find out what is that you want.

Often societal pressure and sexual orientation discrimination restrict people and they are afraid to come out even though they know who they are.

If you truly intend on living a meaningful life with someone who is the same as you are, you need to keep looking at every aspect of sexual orientation there is.

Even if after trying out a label you feel like this is not the one for you, move on to the next one and keep going until you find yourself. Don’t be afraid of what others think or what people will say, after all, it’s your life and your happiness that matters.

Can A Person’s Sexual Orientation Be Changed?

As stated earlier, Sexual Orientation is not something that you can choose rather it is something that naturally denotes who a person is. It is natural for some people to be straight and some people to be gay.

Medical experts all over the world believe that sexual orientation involves a complex mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Scientists also believe a person’s genes and hormones play an important role.

So how can you change someone’s genetic structure and hormones that are flowing inside their body since the time of their birth itself? The answer is you cannot.

Just because someone is different from ‘common’ does not mean that they are defective, weird, or wrong! People should learn to accept people the way they are instead of trying to change them into something they are not happy with.

Why Is It Important To Know Your Sexuality?

A person’s sexuality can play an important role in knowing their identity and sense of self.

Sexual drive is an important part of a person’s emotional expression and deep connection with another and it is completely natural and healthy to explore your sexuality.

Knowing your Sexuality means knowing Yourself. When you know yourself, you can find other people that are like you and one fine day find that special someone among them as well.

Final Word

This was all about sexual orientation, its types, how you can know yourself and why is it so important. Hope this helps you take your first step toward knowing your sexual orientation as well.