What Is an Example of Sexuality? (21 Types)

21 types of sexualities

Here are 21 examples of the different types of sexualities, which people use to describe their bodies and the kinds of people they are attracted to.

Here are 21 examples of the different types of sexualities:

1. Ally
   • A person whose attitudes and behaviors are supportive of all sexual orientations and are antiheterosexist and actively helps fight homophobia and heterosexism on both personal and institutional levels.
2. Asexual
   • A person who lacks sexual orientation or who is not sexually attracted to anyone. The person may experience romantic attraction but is not interested in sexual liaisons.
3. Bear
   • Most commonly a male with facial or body hair and a cuddly body is referred to as a bear. However, even within the bear movement, the word “bear” can imply a variety of things to different people.
   • “Bear” is frequently defined as a sense of ease with natural masculinity and physique.
4. Biphobia
   • Fear, discrimination, or hatred of bisexuals, which is frequently linked to the present binary standard. Biphobia can be found in both the LGBTQIA+ community and society.
5. Bisexuality
   • A sexual orientation in which a person is physically and emotionally attracted to more than one gender.
6. Coming out
   • “Coming out” or “being out” refers to the process by which a person recognizes, accepts, and, in many cases, appreciates their LGBTQIA+ status. 
   • This frequently entails sharing this information with others. It is not a one-time occurrence, rather a lifelong process.
7. Down low
   • To conceal one’s same-sex attraction and relationships while engaging in different-sex partnerships externally.
8. Family
   • A phrase commonly used by people who identify with LGBTQIA+ to identify other people in LGBTQIA+.
9. Gay
   • A widespread and accepted term for male homosexuals, but it can be applied to all genders.
10. Heteronormativity
    • Individuals or organizations believe that everyone is heterosexual, and heterosexuality is superior to all other sexualities.
11. Heterosexism
    • Discrimination or hatred against individuals and groups who exhibit nonheterosexual behaviors or identities, paired with the power of the majority to impose such prejudice.
    • Heterosexism excludes the needs, worries, and lives of people who identify with LGBTQIA+ but allows benefits and privileges to people who are heterosexual.
    • It is frequently a subtly oppressive form that promotes the realities of silence and invisibility.
12. Heterosexual privilege
    • Advantages come with being heterosexual but are denied to persons who identify as LGBTQIA+.
13. Homophobia
    • Fear or loathing of homosexuals, homosexuality, or any action or opinion that does not adhere to conventional sex role expectations. This anxiety is what drives sexism and heterosexism.
14. In the closet
    • To be “in the closet” means to conceal one’s LGBTQIA+ status to keep a job, a living arrangement, friends, or survive in some other way. Many LGBTQIA+ people are “out” in some contexts and “closed” in others.
15. Lesbian
    • A frequent and appropriate term for a lady who is only interested in other women.
16. LGBTQIA+
    • LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and “+” signifies other unidentified genders.
    • The letter “Q” was most recently added which means “questioning” or “queer.” 
    • The letter “I” stands for “intersex,” while the letter “A” stands for “asexual” and, in some cases, “allies.”
17. Outing
    • The act of informing others about a person’s LGBTQIA+ status without their permission.
18. Pansexual
    • A person who has sexual feelings for all or most of the gender identities as well as expressions.
19. Polyamory
    • Refers to having open, nonpossessive relationships with various people, which may include:
      • Open relationships
      • Polyfidelity (many romantic relationships with sexual contact restricted to those)
      • Sub-relationships (distinguishing between a “main” relationship or relationships and several secondary partnerships)
    • Polyamory exists in both the heterosexual and gay communities.
20. QTPOC
    • This means queer and transgender people of color (QTPOC).
21. Transvestism
    • This condition involves recurrent, intense, sexual arousal from cross-dressing. A male dresses like a female and vice versa.

What is sexuality?

The term “sexuality” is used to describe how people interpret their bodies and the kind of people they are emotionally and sexually attracted to, as well as their relationships.

This understanding includes all parts of:

• Who they are
• Their values and views about their and others’ bodies
• Their sexual and emotional wants
• Their relationships
• Their gender
• How they feel and think about all these aspects

Sexual feelings and attraction to other people are referred to as sexuality. There are many various forms of sexuality, and it might take some time for people to figure out which one is best for them.

The sexuality of a person is an important element of who they are, and it can influence their ideas, feelings, and behaviors. All these things are entirely natural and are part of the wide range of human relationships and experiences.

Because sexuality is made up of so many distinct components, each person’s knowledge of their sexuality is ever-changing and unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sexuality, which is why there is a huge list of terminology to represent sexual orientations, with more appearing every day.

What is the difference between sexuality and sexual orientation?

• Sexual orientation is a person’s identity based on which sex they are attracted to. A person may express their sexual orientation in various ways. Whatever path a person takes, sexuality is a component of the way they live.
• Sexuality is how one sexually expresses their thoughts, feelings, attraction toward other individuals. It is what a person does and how they live based on their sexual orientation.

For example, a heterosexual or homosexual individual, may have a sexual fetish that they like and participate in, regardless of whether they are heterosexual or homosexual. 

Regardless of sexual orientation, sexual practice is an important element of understanding sexuality. Sexuality is defined by how a person feels not by who a person has sex with, and sexual orientation is defined by who a person identifies with sexually.

What is the philosophy of sexuality?

The philosophy of sexuality explores various aspects of sexual desire. It contemplates and ponders on the question of what invokes sexual desire in an individual and how can sexuality help a person achieve emotional health and growth.

• Procreation: Production of offspring.
• Contraception: Measure taken to prevent or control pregnancy.
• Celibacy: Abstaining from marriage or sexual relationships.
• Marriage: Legal union of a couple.
• Adultery: Indulging in sexual relationships with others than own spouse.
• Casual sex: Sex between two people who are not in a relationship.
• Flirting: Playful act demonstrated as though people are sexually attracted to each other.
• Prostitution: Engage in sexual activities to gain money or other commercial benefits.
• Homosexuality: Indulging in sexual activity with a person of the same sex.
• Masturbation: Attaining sexual arousal by stimulating own genitals.
• Seduction: An act of attracting other people for sex.
• Sadomasochism: Gaining sexual pleasure by inflicting pain to the partner or oneself.

The normative philosophy of sexuality investigates the value of sexual engagement and sexual pleasure, as well as the numerous forms they take. The philosophy of sexuality is a vast branch of applied ethics that deals with persistent concerns of sexual morality. 

Normative philosophy of sexuality explores what contribution sexuality makes to the good or virtuous life. It attempts to determine the moral responsibilities that allow and do not allow to engage sexually with others.