Most people know that sexuality exists on a spectrum. But many think that means that heterosexuality is at one and same-sex attraction is at the other.

In reality, there are many types of sexual orientation. Sexuality isn’t nearly that cut and dry — and it’s a topic that can confuse even the most open-minded.

Before getting into a detailed list of the different sexualities and their definitions, let’s clarify what “sexuality” is — and what it’s not. 

What does sexuality mean?

You’ve probably heard variations of the acronyms used to represent the queer community, like LGBT, LGBTQ, or LGBTQIA. What you might not realize is that these acronyms encompass both genders and sexualities.

We’ll cover some of these acronyms in our list of sexualities. But you won’t see two of the acronyms included: the T for transgender, which describes a person whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth; and the I for intersex, which describes a person born with reproductive organs that don’t fit neatly into the binary male/female box.

Sexuality, on the other hand, isn’t determined by your biological sex or gender identity but rather by the type of person you’re sexually or romantically attracted to.

Still confused? Let’s take a closer look at a variety of different sexuality types to give you a better understanding of the concept.

The sexuality glossary

Remember the queer acronyms we mentioned earlier? We left off an even longer version: LGBTIQCAPGNGFNBA, which includes letters like C for curious, GN and GF for gender nonconforming and gender fluid, and NB for nonbinary.

We mention this to highlight just how difficult it is to take all the sexualities and gender identities into account. For this reason, we won’t be trying to tell you exactly how many sexualities there are, but we’ve compiled a comprehensive glossary to get you started.

Asexual

Asexuality refers to people who experience little to no sexual attraction to others. It’s a spectrum, and some asexual people might engage in sexual activities, while others might not feel sexual attraction at all. 

But don’t confuse asexuality with aromanticism, which describes a tendency not to develop romantic feelings. You can be both asexual and aromantic, but it’s also possible to experience romantic attraction without it ever turning sexual (and vice versa). 

Bisexual 

Bisexuality is the sexual attraction to more than one gender, but being bisexual doesn’t necessarily mean you like both men and women. Bisexual individuals may find themselves attracted to the same, opposite, or different genders in varying degrees. You’ll also sometimes hear people describe themselves as bicurious.

Demisexual

Demisexuality is similar to asexuality, in that it involves a lack of sexual attraction. But demisexuals generally have to form a deep emotional connection with someone before entering a sexual relationship. Like asexuality, demisexuality has a romantic counterpart: demiromanticism, which describes people who need a solid emotional connection before any romantic feelings start to build. 

Graysexual

People who are graysexual sit within the asexuality spectrum, but instead of never feeling sexually attracted to others, graysexual people experience sexual attraction now and then. Depending on the person, this attraction might only happen under specific circumstances, or their attraction might be much less intense than what others experience. 

Heterosexual

Heterosexuality generally describes men or women who are only attracted to people of the opposite sex — the people often referred to as “straight.” But the prefix “hetero” means “different,” not “opposite,” and the definition of heterosexual gets a little murky if you don’t subscribe to the idea that there are only two genders. If you’re a trans woman who’s only attracted to people who identify as male, for example, straight is still likely the best word to describe your sexual orientation.

Homosexual  

The “homo” prefix means “same,” so “homosexuality” describes people who are only sexually or romantically attracted to those who share their gender. But most who prefer same-sex partners identify as gay, lesbian, or queer — homosexual is an archaic and sometimes offensive adjective that we wouldn’t recommend using to describe an individual.

Omnisexual 

Other people’s genders factor into an omnisexual person’s attraction, but they’re drawn to all of them.

Pansexual

Like omnisexuality, pansexuality involves an attraction to all genders. The key distinction is that pansexual people often think of themselves as “gender-blind,” while omnisexual people don’t.

Polysexual

Similar to bisexuality and pansexuality, polysexual people are attracted to multiple, but not necessarily all, genders.

Queer

“Queer” was once used as a slur to insult gay people, those who dressed in drag, and even straight, cisgender men and women who weren’t masculine or feminine enough to fit in. But the LGBTQ+ community has reclaimed the word, using it as an umbrella term for any individuals who don’t adhere to conventional gender identities or sexual orientations.

Questioning  

Some people who are still exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity refer to themselves as “questioning,” a term that acknowledges that understanding one’s sexuality or gender can be an ongoing journey.

Sapiosexual

You’ll see plenty of straight or gay people on dating apps label themselves sapiosexuals as a way of saying they prefer intelligent partners. But if someone is strictly sapiosexual, they’re attracted to the way others think, not the gender they identify with.

Skoliosexual

Skoliosexuals are primarily attracted to nonbinary, genderqueer, or transgender people, preferring partners that don’t fit into the traditional gender binary.

The gender identity glossary

We’ve already touched on the reasons transgender and intersex relate to an individual’s gender, not their sexuality. But they’re not the only gender identities out there. Here’s a quick look at some more.

Agender

People who feel an absence of gender, identify as gender-neutral, or reject the concept of gender altogether might refer to themselves as agender.

Bigender

Some people experience two distinct gender identities, either simultaneously or at different times. These identities might be male and female but could also include nonbinary or genderqueer identities.

Genderfluid

A genderfluid person’s gender expression may shift between masculinity and femininity, sometimes moving from one together slowly and sometimes shifting from day to day.

Genderqueer

Individuals who don’t adhere to strictly male or female gender identities might call themselves genderqueer. They may identify as both male and female, a combination of the two, or neither.

Nonbinary

Like genderqueer people, nonbinary individuals don’t identify as strictly male or female. They may identify with both genders, neither, or a different gender entirely.

Two-spirit

Some indigenous North American cultures use the term “two-spirit” to refer to people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits, recognizing these individuals for their unique social, spiritual, and ceremonial roles. Some longer LGBT acronyms include “2S” to represent two-spirit people.

Why respecting others’ identities matters

Respecting someone else’s identity goes way beyond politeness; it also recognizes and validates their personal journey, which can be a lot more impactful than you might think. The opposite is true, too — feeling understood and accepted is a basic human need, and neglecting to respect others’ identities can impact their mental health and overall well-being.

Embracing diversity also enriches the broader community, creating a culture that celebrates the unique qualities each individual brings to the table. Allowing people to freely express their true selves fosters a more authentic, dynamic community where no one feels endangered because of who they are.

Explore your sexuality with Quinn

If you have a sexual interest in other genders and sexualities, reading LGBTQ+ erotica or indulging in ethical porn is the perfect way to explore and figure out what (and who) turns you on. That’s why we made Quinn, the audio erotica app created by women for the world. If you’re interested in threesomes, lesbian erotica, or nonbinary voices, the wide range of erotic content on Quinn is a great place to start.

To access thousands of audio stories and guided masturbation sessions, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.