You know what gay and straight mean.
You know what lesbian and bisexual mean.
But what’s demi? Sapiosexual? Gray-ace?
More and more apps, like Hinge and OkCupid, are including a range of orientations that capture precise nuances of sexual expression.
Although not all singles feel comfortable using those tags – for some, their preferences are a private matter to share only with the right person – others want to make sure their matches are compatible from the get-go.
⚠️Don’t skip over those tags. They’re important information.
And if you don’t understand a term? Look it up. Educate yourself. Don’t expect your date to educate you.
Abrosexual: Experiences a sexual orientation that shifts frequently, sometimes dramatically, over time.
Akiosexual (Lithosexual): Feels attraction but does not want it reciprocated.
Allosexual: A general term for people who experience sexual attraction.
Androsexual: Attraction to masculinity, regardless of gender.
Asexual (Ace): Experiences little or no sexual attraction but may experience other types of attraction, like aesthetic or emotional. That doesn’t mean asexuals don’t have sex or want relationships; some do.
Bisexual: Attraction to more than one gender.
Cupiosexual: Does not experience sexual attraction but still desires a sexual relationship.
Demisexual: Experiences attraction only after an emotional bond, aka the “slow burn.” Take it slow and build a friendship first.
Fluid: Attraction that changes over time or context.
Fraysexual: Experiences attraction primarily toward strangers or people they don’t know well, which fades as emotional closeness grows.
Gay: Attraction to people of the same gender. Most commonly used by men, but also used as a broader umbrella term by some women and nonbinary people.
Graysexual (Gray-ace): Experiences sexual attraction rarely or under limited conditions. In the “gray” zone between ace and allo.
Gynosexual (Gynesexual): Attraction to femininity, regardless of gender.
Heteroflexible: Mostly straight with occasional same-gender attraction.
Homoflexible: Mostly gay with occasional different-gender attraction.
Lesbian: Typically a woman attracted to other women. Also used by some nonbinary people.
Omnisexual: Attraction to all genders, with awareness of gender differences.
Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of gender.
Polysexual: Attraction to multiple, but not all, genders.
Queer: A sexual identity that doesn’t fit into a neat cis-allo-hetero box.
Questioning: Still exploring or unsure of one’s sexual orientation.
Reciprosexual: Experiences attraction only when it is returned.
Sapiosexual: Attraction based on intelligence or the mind. Come prepared to talk about books, philosophy, the news, and big ideas.
Skoliosexual: Attraction to nonbinary or gender-diverse people. Also referred to as ceterosexual.
Straight (Hetero): Attraction to the opposite gender.
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