Different Sexual Orientations | What They Are and Easy Ways to Understand Them

Have you ever heard someone identify their sexuality, but not known exactly what it meant? We have created a glossary for you of various sexuality types, defining what each one entails. Hopefully, this will help you better understand the sexualities of those around you, and help you to educate others as well!

Asexual - no sexual attraction or desire to any gender or individual; nonsexual 

Antisexual - one who is opposed to sex or to (teaching, researching, expressing, etc) sexuality. 

Autosexual - sexual attraction to oneself 

Bi-Curious - someone who is heterosexual, but interested in sexual experiences with the same sex 

Bisexual - attracted to both the same and opposite sex 

Demisexual - not attracted to anyone sexually until a bond is formed with a particular person 

Gay - attracted to exclusively the same sex

Genderqueer - spectrum of gender identities that don’t necessarily subscribe to exclusively the male or female gender, or identifies with a combination or both 

Greysexual - is used to refer to people who experience limited sexual attraction. In other words, they experience sexual attraction very rarely, or with very low intensity. This is also known as gray-asexuality, gray-A, or gray-ace.

Heteroflexible - characterized by primarily heterosexual activity, often refered to as an inbetween of heterosexuality and bisexuality 

Homoflexible - primarily attracted to those of the same sex, but less occasionally attracted to those of the opposite sex as well 

Omnisexual - attracted to all genders, similar to someone who is pansexual; can tend to like one gender more than others 

Pansexual - attracted to anyone regardless of sex or gender identity 

Polysexual - attracted to multiple genders, with no limit on the gender spectrum 

Queer - an umbrella term used to characterize sexual minorities who are not heterosexual or  cisgender

Straight - attracted to exclusively the opposite sex 

Skoliosexual - attracted to those who are intersex, genderqueer, non-binary, and/or transgender 

Additionally, here are some notable actors and celebrities who identify with some of the sexualities listed above:

Bella Thorne - Pansexual

After previously identifying as bisexual, Bella Thorne says she feels more comfortable labeling herself pansexual after fully understanding what it means. 

Ricky  Dillon - Asexual

In a 2016 YouTube video, popular content creator Ricky Dillon explained that he identified with asexuality more closely than any other label. 

Kristen Stweart - Bisexual

Having dated both men and women in the past, Kristen Stewart identifies as bisexual. She claims that her sexuality is something she is very sure of, debunking rumors that insinuate bisexual people are just ‘confused’. 

Billy Eichner - Gay

Having a now-successful career after the launch of his show “Billy on the Street”, Billy Eichner has been out as gay since his early stand up comedy days.