Skip to content

The description below is for an image or graphic that appears in the page: Understanding sexual orientation

Image description

Heterosexual: People who are heterosexual are romantically and physically attracted to members of the opposite sex.
Heterosexual males are attracted to females, and heterosexual females are attracted to males.
Heterosexuals are sometimes called “straight.”
Homosexual: People who are homosexual are romantically and physically attracted to people of the same sex.
Females who are attracted to other females are lesbian; males who are attracted to other males are often known as gay.
The term gay is sometimes used to describe homosexual individuals of either sex. The terms gay and lesbian are used more commonly than homosexual.
Bisexual: People who are bisexual are romantically and physically attracted to members of both sexes.
Pansexual: Pansexual is similar to bisexual, but a more inclusive approach to understanding ones sexuality since ‘pan’ means all.
A child who is attracted to people regardless of their gender
Asexual: People who are asexual may not be interested in sex, but they still feel emotionally close to other people.

Return to page.