Romantic and sexual orientation: Difference between revisions

Simply put, people who identify as lesbians are usually women who feel attraction to other women. Historically and today, many lesbians have a gender identity and expression that they feel does not fit into the Western [[gender binary]] or patriarchal, heterosexual norms of womanhood. Some see "lesbian" as their gender identity as well as their sexuality.<ref name="Gender Census 2018">{{Cite web |title=Gender Census 2018 Identity words (public) |author=Cassian |date=21 June 2018 |access-date=27 July 2020 |url= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12cN-ooc5EuLIaqbmfqbjZffYldTzWRAHc-qZaRJ2xsQ/edit#gid=1402706910}}</ref><ref name="Gender Census 2019">{{Cite web |title=Gender Census 2019 - the public spreadsheet |author=Cassian |date=30 March 2019 |access-date=27 July 2020 |url= https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ePCyWMdorSHAaxNcd1Iv64oLvkdgeoZldTdGZZTHlvY/edit#gid=498446722}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=23 July 2019|url=https://www.deviantart.com/pantomorph/art/lesbian-gender-pride-flag-806822407|title=lesbian gender pride flag|author=pantomorph}}</ref> Some lesbians who use the words [[butch]], [[stone]], or [[dyke]] for themselves express and experience their gender identities through [[masculinity]], [[androgyny]], sexual difference, and nonconformity.<ref name=Feinberg>{{cite book|last1=Feinberg|first1=Leslie|title=Stone Butch Blues: A Novel|date=1993|edition=1st|publisher=Firebrand Books|location=|isbn=1563410303}}</ref><ref name=Halberstam>{{Cite book|last1=Halberstam|first1=Judith|authorlink=Judith Halberstam|title=Female Masculinity|year=1998|edition=1st|page=[https://archive.org/details/femalemasculinit00judi/page/111 111]|publisher=Duke University Press|location=|chapter=Lesbian Masculinity: Even Stone Butches Get the Blues|isbn=0822322269|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/femalemasculinit00judi/page/111}}</ref><ref name="Krantz">{{cite journal|last1=Krantz|first1=Susan E.|title=Reconsidering the Etymology of Bulldike|journal=American Speech|date=1995|volume=70|issue=2|pages=217–221|doi=10.2307/455819|issn=00031283|url=https://scholarworks.uno.edu/engl_facpubs/41|jstor=455819}}</ref> Lesbians can be [[woman#cisgender women|cisgender women]], [[woman#transgender women|transgender women]], nonbinary/genderqueer women, and anyone else who feels that their identities [[gender alignment|align]] with womanhood or that they have some kind of connection to womanhood.<ref name="Carney">{{Cite web |title=In Defense of Non-Binary Lesbianism |last=Carney |first=Sasha |work=Broad Recognition |date=4 November 2019 |access-date=14 June 2020 |url= https://www.broadsatyale.com/in-defense-of-non-binary-lesbianism/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The struggles of rejecting the gender binary |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/magazine/gender-nonbinary.html |date=4 June 2019 |work=The New York Times Magazine |access-date=1 February 2020 |last=Bergner |first=Daniel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/44110/1/andrea-lawlor-paul-takes-the-form-of-a-mortal-girl-book-interview |authorlink=Andrea Lawlor |title=Andrea Lawlor explores the wild possibilities of sexual-shapeshifting |publisher=Dazed |date=18 April 2019 |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/lesbian-slang-terms-definitions#slide-8 |title=17 lesbian slang terms every baby gay needs to learn |publisher=Refinery 29 |date=30 March 2018 |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Ormiston |first=Wendy |title=Stone butch celebration: A Transgender-inspired revolution in academia |pages=198-216 |date=July 1996 |doi=10.17763/haer.66.2.46r7n64515203412 |journal=Harvard Educational Review |volume=66 |issue=2}}</ref>  

* American autistic activist blogger [[Mel Baggs]] (1980 - 2020), who said sie<ref name="TDOV">{{cite web|url=https://withasmoothroundstone.tumblr.com/post/115187595380/transgender-day-of-visibility-mel-age-34|title=Transgender day of visibility.|date=April 2015}}</ref> was a [[genderless]] lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://withasmoothroundstone.tumblr.com/post/145842413020/im-a-genderless-lesbian-and|title=I’m a genderless lesbian and…|date=June 2016}}</ref>

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person feels sexual attraction to more than one gender. This means they're attracted to all genders, since there are only two.<ref>[https://bisexualresearch.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-bisexualityreport.pdf The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity.] 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Under the Bisexual Umbrella: Diversity of Identity and Experience |last=Flanders |first=Corey E. |work=Journal of Bisexuality |date=March 15, 2017 |access-date=November 26, 2019 |url= https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15299716.2017.1297145 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2017.1297145 |quote=Bisexuality as a single identity encompasses so many different meanings and attractions and behaviors for people who explicitly identify as bisexual. The general identity definition most commonly used, attraction to more than one gender, then leaves room for the multitudinous expressions of that identity. }}</ref><ref name="scot_What">{{Cite web |title=What's In A Name? |author=Lorna |work=Scottish Bi+ Network |date=15 October 2018 |access-date=November 26, 2019 |url= http://www.scottishbinet.org/2018/10/whats-in-name.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130235531/http://www.scottishbinet.org:80/2018/10/whats-in-name.html |archive-date=30 January 2010 |quote=Bi: Attraction to two or more genders, and can include non-binary gender(s). Can also be used for attraction to all genders. }}</ref> Some define this as attraction to "women and men".<ref name="Savin-Williams2018">{{Cite web |title=Are Pansexuals Bisexual, Queer, Trans, Asexual, or Unique? |last=Savin-Williams |first=Ritch C. |work=Psychology Today |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=18 September 2021 |url= https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-sexuality-and-romance/201806/are-pansexuals-bisexual-queer-trans-asexual-or-unique |quote=bisexuality refers to sexual/romantic attraction to both men and women, to varying degrees. }}</ref><ref name="Sutherland2020">{{Cite web |title=LGBTQIAPK: Let's Unpack the Acronym |last=Sutherland |first=Amy |work=Harlot |date=2020 |access-date=18 September 2021 |url= https://callmeharlot.com/all-learning-content/lgbtqiapk-lets-unpack-the-acronym |quote=A bisexual person is someone who is sexually and romantically attracted to both male- and female-identifying people. }}</ref> Others define bisexuality as attraction to two categories of people: the same as one's own gender, and different than one's own gender.<ref name="Harte2019">{{Cite web |title=Being bisexual+ & nonbinary while rejecting the gender binary |last=Harte |first=Mackenzie |work=Queerty |date=19 September 2019 |access-date=18 September 2021 |url= https://www.queerty.com/bisexual-nonbinary-rejecting-gender-binary-20190919 |quote=A common misconception about bisexuality+ is that it means that you are only attracted to men and women (typically assumed to be cisgender men and cisgender women). This is untrue. Bisexuality+ means that you have the capacity to be attracted to genders like your own and genders unlike your own. There is no inherent binary to a bisexual+ (bi+) identity, and I am the proof of that as someone who is bisexual+ and nonbinary. }}</ref> Others define bisexuality as attraction to people of any gender. What "bisexuality" means when nonbinary identities are taken into account is a matter of debate. Many people feel that "bi-" reinforces the gender binary, and erases nonbinary identities, preferring pansexual or polysexual. Others<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bisexualindex.org.uk/index.php/Bisexuality#binary|title="Bi means two so bisexuality is transphobic"|work=The Bisexual Index}}</ref> argue that "bisexual" was originally coined to describe a sexuality which included aspects of both heterosexuality and homosexuality, and that it should be interpreted as inclusive of attraction to all genders or sexes, although there are certainly bisexuals who do only feel attraction to two specific genders, whether those be "men and women", "women and genderqueer folks", or any two genders imaginable.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lapointe |first= Alicia Anne|date=2016| title='It's not Pans, It's People': Student and Teacher Perspectives on Bisexuality and Pansexuality|journal= Journal of Bisexuality|volume=17 |issue= 1 |pages= 88–107 |doi= 10.1080/15299716.2016.1196157}}</ref>

* Musician [[Sydney Dolezal]]

* Activist [[Shiri Eisner]]

Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness & Visibility Day is celebrated on May 24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May 24 is Pan Awareness Day |author= |work=diversity.lbl.gov |date=21 May 2021 |access-date=11 November 2021 |url= https://diversity.lbl.gov/2021/05/21/may-24-is-pan-awareness-day/}}</ref>

*Entertainer [[Courtney Act]]

*Musician and actor [[Shamir Bailey]]

Asexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person usually does not feel sexual attraction to anyone.<ref name="Sex and society">{{cite book|editor=Marshall Cavendish|title=Sex and Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVDZchwkIMEC&pg=PA82|accessdate=July 27, 2013|volume=2|year=2010|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7906-2|pages=82–83|contribution=Asexuality}}</ref><ref name="Bogaert 2015">{{cite journal|last=Bogaert|first= Anthony F. |s2cid= 23720993 |title= Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters |journal=The Journal of Sex Research|volume= 52|date=April 2015 |pmid=25897566|doi=10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713|issue=4|pages=362–379}}</ref> They may have little or no interest in sexual activity.<ref name="Crooks">{{cite book|last1=Crooks |first1=Robert L. |last2=Baur |first2=Karla |title=Our Sexuality|isbn=978-1305887428|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2016|page=300|accessdate=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isIaCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT300}}</ref><ref name="Helm">{{cite book|last=Helm |first=Katherine M.|title=Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating|isbn=978-1610699518|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2015|page=32|accessdate=January 4, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O3K9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32}}</ref><ref name="Kelly">{{cite book|last = Kelly| first = Gary F.|title = Sexuality Today: The Human Perspective|edition=7|year = 2004| publisher = McGraw-Hill |isbn= 978-0-07-255835-7|page = 401|chapter  = Chapter 12 |postscript = Asexuality is a condition characterized by a low interest in sex.}}</ref> This is an enduring characteristic.<ref name="apahelp">{{cite web|title=Sexual orientation, homosexuality and bisexuality|publisher=American Psychological Association|accessdate=March 30, 2013|url=http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual-orientation.aspx}}</ref> Asexuality is not the same as celibacy, in which a person may feel sexual attraction, but intentionally chooses not to have sex.<ref name="Halter">{{cite book|author=Margaret Jordan Halter |author2=Elizabeth M. Varcarolis|title=Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing|isbn=978-1-4557-5358-1|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|year=2013|page=382|accessdate=May 7, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZ15AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA382#v=onepage}}</ref><ref name="DePaulo">{{cite journal|first=Bella|last=DePaulo|title=ASEXUALS: Who Are They and Why Are They Important?|journal=Psychology Today|date=September 26, 2011|accessdate=December 13, 2011|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/200912/asexuals-who-are-they-and-why-are-they-important}}</ref>  Asexuality can be mistaken for aromanticism, however they are different (aromanticism is the lack of ''romantic'' attraction rather than sexual). More often than not, people use asexuality to mean something distinct from aromanticism, to say that they may feel romantic attraction, but not sexual attraction.<ref name="Richards and Barker">{{cite book|author=Christina Richards |author2=Meg Barker|title=Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide|isbn=978-1-4462-9313-3|publisher=Sage Publications|year=2013|pages=124–127|accessdate=July 3, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSiXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT124}}</ref> Some asexual people enjoy taking part in sexual relationships, even though they do not feel an instinctive need to do so.<ref name="Prause">{{cite journal|last=Prause |first=Nicole |author2=Cynthia A. Graham |s2cid=12034925 |date=August 2004 |url=http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/publications/PDF/PrauseGrahamPDF.pdf |title=Asexuality: Classification and Characterization |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |volume=36 |pages=341–356 |accessdate=August 31, 2007 |doi=10.1007/s10508-006-9142-3 |pmid=17345167 |issue=3 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927014407/http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/publications/PDF/PrauseGrahamPDF.pdf |archivedate=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many asexuals see asexuality as a queer identity, and under the umbrella of [[MOGII|marginalized orientations, gender identities, and intersex (MOGII)]], because they experience discrimination for their orientation, like lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Asexuality can also be defined as an umbrella term, which can include other kinds of sexuality labels in the asexual spectrum, such as and gray-asexuality, demisexuality, and more.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Scherrer|first=Kristin|title=Coming to an Asexual Identity: Negotiating Identity, Negotiating Desire|journal=Sexualities|volume=11|issue=5|pages=621–641|doi=10.1177/1363460708094269|pmid=20593009|pmc=2893352|year=2008}}</ref><ref>Jillian Cottle, "Hallelujah, it's raining labels." [http://jilliancottle.com/hallelujah-its-raining-labels]</ref>

* American writer, public speaker, and model [[Tyler Ford]] (b. 1990) is [[agender]] and asexual.<ref name="Childress">{{Cite web |title=“I Like to Exist as a Person”: What It Means to Live Beyond Gender |last=Childress |first=Sarah |work=FRONTLINE |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=28 April 2020 |url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/i-like-to-exist-as-a-person-what-it-means-to-live-beyond-gender/}}</ref><ref name="Yates">{{Cite web |title=Tyler Ford |last=Yates |first=Kieran |work=Dazed |date= |access-date=28 April 2020 |url= https://www.dazeddigital.com/projects/article/29255/1/tyler-ford}}</ref><ref name="inte_Tyle">{{Cite web |title=Tyler Ford |work=Interview Magazine |date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=April 28, 2020 |url= https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/tyler-ford }}</ref>

'''Demisexuality''' is similar, but different in that a demisexual person will feel sexual attraction only if they have formed an emotional bond with someone, a friend for example.

* Intersex activist [[Hans Lindahl]] (demisexual)<ref>{{cite tweet|user=hiHelloHans|number=1143204820318162944|title=Just realized that of LGBTQIA, I am 5/7: -Bi -Trans (umbrella: nonbinary/genderqueer) -Queer -Intersex -Asexual (umbrella: demi) can my prize be being left alone|date=June 24, 2019}}</ref>