Defining Identities

GSA Club(All statistics from 2010 US Census or

Williams Institute Report)

Sexuality, Sex, and Gender What’s the Difference? Sexuality: one’s sexual attraction to another

human being Sex: biological assignment at birth due to

genitalia, can be surgically changed Gender: one’s personal identification with

one, some, all, or none of the many gender identities that exist

Romantic Attraction

A relationship in which one has strong feelings for another person

Completely spiritual, not physical Strong emotions brought up by the thought or

sight of the other person No sexual intent Can coexist with other attractions

Emotional Attraction

A relationship involving a strong emotional bond with another person

Desire to be emotionally close with someone Can happen with friends, family, colleagues,

and mentors Can coexist with other attractions

Intellectual Attraction

A relationship in which you are interested in another's’ mind, intellect, knowledge, or skills

Usually felt towards a colleague or mentor Can coexist with other attractions

Aesthetic Attraction

A relationship in which one is attracted to another’s physical appearance in a non-sexual way

Can be the person’s body or clothing style Has nothing to do with sexual orientation Can coexist with other attractions

Sensual Attraction

A relationship in which one desires to touch or be touched by another person in a non-sexual way

Usually connected to emotional attraction Can coexist with other attractions

Sexual Attraction

A relationship in which one sexually desires another person

Desire to have sexual intercourse/sexual intimacy with

Can coexist with other attractions

Intersex An individual born with any

combination of male and female genitalia

1.7% human births are intersex

One in every 1:1500 to 1:2000 births

Even more than this have sex anatomy variations that show up later in life

Heterosexual

An individual who likes a person of the opposite sex

Ex: Male liking female Female liking male

Homosexual

Gay: sexual attraction between two men or two females

Lesbian: sexual attraction between two females

1.1% of women in the US 2.2% of men in the US Ex: Male liking male Female liking Female

Bisexual Sexual attraction to any two

sex/gender identities (most common being male and female)

2.2% of women in the US 1.4% of men in the US Ex: Female liking females and

males Male liking females and males

Polysexual

Sexual attraction to many, but NOT all, or the various combinations of genders and sexes

Estimated 4%-5% of the US population

Pansexual

Sexual attraction to a person regardless of gender, sex, or expression

Asexual Lack of sexual attraction to a

person of any gender or sex Estimated 1% of US

population Ex: A male that is emotionally

attracted to females and males

A female that in sensually and romantically attracted to females