Sexual Orientation – Am I Gay, Straight, or Bisexual?

Sexual orientation refers to the gender a person is attracted to sexually, emotionally, or romantically. A person may be attracted to members of the opposite sex, the same sex, or both sexes. Sexual attraction should not be confused with gender identity which refers to how a person wish to be identify as male or female.

Sexual attraction is grouped into three different types of category; heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality. Based on scientific research, sexual orientation is not a choice and no one chose to be homosexual or bisexual. There is no single explanation to the cause of homosexuality or bisexuality. Scientific research suggests this may be caused by a combination of biological (genetic), psychological (social influence), and environmental factors.

Heterosexuality

Heterosexuality is sexual attraction between members of the opposite sex. Heterosexuality includes male to female attraction or female to male attraction. Most heterosexual men and women desire love and commitment in long-term relationship with a single partner. Most heterosexual relationships involved intimacy and romance, but some relationships are based on pleasure that involved multiple sexual partners. Heterosexuality is predominant in our society as majority of the people in the world are heterosexual.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is sexual attraction between members of the same sex. Homosexuality includes male to male attraction or female to female attraction. Sexual attractions between males are referred to as gay sexuality. Sexual attractions between females are referred to as lesbian sexuality.

Homosexual couples also desire love and commitment in long-term relationship similar to heterosexual couples in long-term relationship. Homosexual relationship is similar to heterosexual relationship in a sense that both relationships are based on deep emotional connection and romance. Regardless of sexual orientation, some gays and lesbians prefer short-term relationship with multiple sexual partners.

Bisexuality

Bisexuality is sexual attraction between members of both sexes. Bisexuality includes male to male attraction or male to female attraction, female to female attraction or female to male attraction.

Bisexual couples also desire love and commitment in long-term relationship similar to heterosexual and homosexual couples in long-term relationship. Bisexual relationships are also based on intimacy and romance with either a male or female partner. Some bisexual people prefer short-term relationship with multiple sexual partners (male or female).

There are different types of bisexuality that are categorized as real orientation, transitory orientation, transitional orientation, or homosexual denial.

• Bisexuality as a real orientation means a person has sexual attraction to members of both sexes that begins in early childhood and continues into adulthood.

• Bisexuality as transitory orientation means a person who is heterosexual or homosexual becomes bisexual for certain period of time. The individual will return to their original sexual orientation after a temporary bisexual experiences.

• Bisexuality as transitional orientation means a person who is heterosexual or homosexual transition into bisexual and continues maintaining bisexual orientation.

• Bisexuality as homosexual denial means a person who is homosexual maintains a bisexual identity because the person lacks the courage to identify oneself as homosexual.

Homophobia may be referred to as prejudice, discrimination, and violence against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. In Asian countries, societal acceptance of homosexuality is very low. In North America and most European countries, homosexuality has become increasingly accepted but homophobia remains very common in contemporary modern society.

In North America and most European countries there are national laws that protect gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from prejudice and discrimination against employment, housing, and hate crimes.

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