Do you find yourself struggling to follow the conversation when people are talking about sexuality? Whether you are questioning your own sexual orientation or just want to expand your knowledge on the vast range of sexualities, this article is a good place for you to start.
Many young people and adults go through this process. You are not alone. I asked my friends and peers how they felt at different points in their journey of exploring their sexuality, and you can read their quotes throughout this article.
“I fell under three different labels in the same year as I was figuring out what felt right and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
There can be a lot of jargon and words used every day and the meaning of them is often lost in the spider’s web of conversation. Stonewall have a fantastic glossary of terms which can help you to find your way through it. Below are four terms that are often confused and some pointers that can help distinguish between them.
Bisexual:
- Attracted to two or more genders
- Gender factors into attraction, meaning the person’s gender may affect your romantic and/or sexual attraction to the person
Omnisexual:
- Attracted to all genders
- Gender factors into attraction
Pansexual:
- Attracted to all genders
- Gender does not factor into attraction, meaning you are romantically and/or sexually attracted to the person regardless of their gender
Polysexual:
- Attracted to two or more genders
- Gender does not factor into attraction
This is not a complete list, so if you don’t think any of these describe your personal preference, Stonewall has lots of great information that can help you on your journey.
“I kept invalidating myself and once you get over that you feel so much more true to yourself.”
Being unsure of your sexuality is absolutely normal and it’s perfectly acceptable to experiment until you find what works for you.
Distinguishing between different sexualities can be difficult and determining which works for you can be even more confusing as small factors can suddenly change the sexuality being described due to each having such specific criteria.
“Discovering your sexuality is being able to accept every part of you even if it leaves you vulnerable to the judgement of society.”
If you are questioning your gender identity, then mermaidsuk has lots of really great info and advice.
“Accept yourself and others will in time.”
