Chapter 9: Sexual Orientations

Question 1

Sexual orientation

Answer 1

Sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction one has to others, usually labeled based on the sex of the people one is attracted to.

Question 2

Heterosexual

Answer 2

A sexual orientation that describes people with sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to people of the other sex. Also called straight.

Question 3

Homosexual

Answer 3

A sexual orientation that describes people with sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to people of the same sex/gender. Also called gay or lesbian.

Question 4

Bisexual

Answer 4

A sexual orientation that describes people with sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to both men and women.

Question 5

Asexual

Answer 5

A lack of sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to others.

Question 6

LGBTQ

Answer 6

An acronym for the words: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning. Sometimes a + (LGBTQ+) is added to the end to be inclusive of other gender and sexual minority identities.

Question 7

Queer

Answer 7

An umbrella term used to describe people who do not identify as heterosexual and/or cisgender. This used to be a derogatory term but has been reclaimed by many people in the LGBTQ community.

Question 8

Mostly straight

Answer 8

Individuals who are primarily heterosexual and have some degree of sexual interest in and/or experience with the same sex.

Question 9

Mostly gay/lesbian

Answer 9

Individuals who are primarily homosexual and have some degree of sexual interest in and/or experience with the other sex.

Question 10

Pansexual

Answer 10

Sexual attraction, romantic love, or emotional attraction toward people of any sex or gender identity.

Question 11

Sexual fluidity

Answer 11

Variability in same-sex and other-sex attraction and involvement at different times and in different situations throughout the life span.

Question 12

Performative bisexuality

Answer 12

Heterosexually-identified women who engage in sexual activity with other women for the purpose of pleasing and arousing men.

Question 13

Gender nonconformity

Answer 13

A lack of conformity to stereotypical masculine and feminine behaviors.

Question 14

Gay-affirmative therapy

Answer 14

Therapy to help homosexual clients cope with negative societal attitudes.

Question 15

Internalized homophobia

Answer 15

Negative attitudes toward homosexual people that have been internalized and directed toward oneself as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or other sexual minority person.

Question 16

Conversion therapy/sexual reorientation therapy

Answer 16

Therapy that purports to help homosexual men and women change their sexual orientation. It is not an effective therapy and can be very harmful.

Question 17

Homophobia

Answer 17

Negative attitudes, such as fear, intolerance, resentment, and discomfort, towards homosexual people. These negative attitudes often extend to other sexual and gender minority people as well.

Question 18

Heterosexism

Answer 18

The belief that heterosexuality is better than LGBTQ identities.

Question 19

Coming out

Answer 19

The process of becoming aware of, accepting, and disclosing one’s sexual and/or gender identity.

Question 20

Heteronormative

Answer 20

The assumption that everyone has a heterosexual identity; can cause us to stigmatize or treat other identities as invisible.

Question 21

Outing

Answer 21

Public disclosure of someone’s sexual minority identity by someone else.