Sexual Orientations
There are many different sexual orientations, and it's normal to have trouble navigating them. We'll cover the basics to help you learn more about the subject.
To remember
👉 Sexual orientation describes the attraction one person feels for another. It is not a choice.
👉 It can evolve over time, and there's no need to put a label on your attraction if you don't want to.
Sexual orientation is the sexual attraction you feel towards certain people. It's not a choice, it's something you feel and it's personal.
In popular parlance, this term is often used to refer to romantic or amorous attraction. In reality, these are two distinct types of attraction that can be concordant (for example, a boy who has a sexual and romantic attraction to boys) or different (for example, a boy who has a romantic attraction to boys, but no sexual attraction).
It may change with time... or not
It's important to remember that sexual orientation isn't necessarily set in stone: it can change throughout your life, depending on your questions, experiences and encounters. It's also possible for it to remain stable for you.
So it's perfectly human to ask yourself questions, to not know, or to refuse to put a label on yourself.
Labels can be useful to put into words how you identify yourself, but it's not at all an obligation to choose one. It's okay to be questioning, regardless of your sexual orientation.
The base
2SLGBTQIAP+
This is the full acronym we use to designate individuals or communities:
Two-Spirited (2S)
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Trans
Queer and Questioning
Intersex
Asexual and Aromantic
Pansexual
The + refers to any other non-heteronormative or cisnormative identity, orientation or reality.
2ELGBTQIA+ is the most complete acronym, but you may also read LGBTQ or LGBTQ+.
Heterosexuality
A heterosexual person is attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Homosexuality
A homosexual person is attracted to people of the same gender.
Cisgender (cis)
A homosexual person is attracted to people of the same gender.
To Out Someone
This verb comes from coming out, and is the act of revealing one's sexual orientation or gender identity to others. Warning: it's very important not to out someone without their consent.
A few definitions to help you better understand sexual orientations
What's a two-spirited person?
Two-spirited is a term used to refer generally to indigenous people in the LGBTQ+ community. It's a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit, and sometimes it can refer to a third gender that doesn't fit the binary male/female norm.
What is a lesbian?
According to the dictionary, a lesbian is a woman who is emotionally and/or sexually attracted to other women.
What's a gay person?
A person who is sexually and/or emotionally attracted to people of the same sex as him or herself, and in this case to a man who is attracted to men (gay man, gay or gay).
What is a bisexual person?
A bisexual person is attracted to both men and women.
What is a trans person?
A trans person is someone whose gender identity does not correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth. Conversely, a cisgender person is one whose gender corresponds to that assigned at birth.
What is queer?
This term can be used to define one's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The word queer refers to people who do not follow traditional norms about sexuality, gender identity or gender expression. This can include many aspects, such as their sexual orientation or gender identity.
These people often reject rigid labels (such as male/female or hetero/homo) and want to be free to assert their identity without being forced to conform to predefined boxes.
What does it mean to be questioning?
It's when a person questions his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. Questioning can happen at any age.
What is an intersex person?
Intersex people are born with sexual characteristics (sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal functioning, etc.) that do not correspond to conventional definitions of masculinity or femininity. Intersex people can have any gender identity or sexual orientation.
What are asexuality and aromanticism?
It's when you feel little or no sexual and/or romantic attraction.
What is a pansexual person?
A pansexual person is attracted to anyone, regardless of gender. A cisgender pansexual woman may, for example, be in a relationship with a non-binary person (a person whose gender identity is not exclusively female or male).
