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We have been a inviting faith. Unitarian Universalism does not simply open its doorways to individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities—we value variety of sex and gender and determine this diversity as being a profound gift that is spiritual.

« Discovering The Right Words »

Language about intimate orientation and sex identification shifts and modifications: brand new terms are born; other words alter definitions. Learning just just how differing people utilize language to produce meaning is very important, as is utilizing language that is inclusive. In discussion with numerous people and communities, we’ve developed some definitions that are working. Do not stop with one of these definitions, though–see the base of these pages for next actions to deepn your understanding.

Fundamental Definitions

Sexual Orientation

We affirm the worth that is inherent dignity of each and every individual. Intimate orientation is just a main element of whom we are—being real to ourselves and honoring each other’s facts are a religious imperative.

Intimate orientation defines the pattern of a person’s attractions that are sexual on sex. Intimate latin dating sites attraction and attraction that is romantic usually lumped together just as if they’re the exact exact same. Which is not constantly the outcome. Affectional orientation defines the pattern of a person’s intimate attraction, or perhaps the sex of those an individual falls deeply in love with or really wants to partner with.

You will find three fundamental forms of intimate orientations: Monosexual, polysexual, and asexual.

Same-Sex Orientation

Some individuals are solely drawn to people of just one sex. Intimate orientation labels utilized by folks of the sex that is same:

• Gay: generally relates to a guy that is drawn to guys. Often relates to all folks who are interested in folks of the same intercourse; often « homosexual » can be used with this additionally, even though this label sometimes appears by numerous today as being a medical term that needs to be resigned from typical usage.
• Lesbian: a female that is interested in females. Often additionally or alternately « same gender-loving woman » or « woman loving girl. »
• Straight: a person that is solely drawn to females or a female that is solely interested in males; additionally often generally utilized to people whoever sexualities are societally normative. Alternatively called “heterosexual.”

Polysexual Orientation

Some individuals are drawn to users of numerous genders. Intimate orientation labels utilized by polysexual individuals include:

• Bisexual: interested in individuals of a person’s very own sex and folks of other gender(s). Often referred to as « bi. » See Bisexuality 101 for more information.
• Pansexual: drawn to people aside from sex. Often also or alternately « omnisexual. »
• Queer: much like pansexual, queer are an identity label and thus a person is interested in folks of numerous genders; nevertheless, queer is a multi-faceted term with one or more meaning and make use of, and it is seen as unpleasant by some people. See Queer 101 for more information.

Asexual Orientation

Some individuals usually do not experience attraction that is sexual. A lot of people this pertains to identify as asexual.

• Asexual: perhaps perhaps not intimately interested in anyone and/or perhaps maybe maybe not performing on attraction to anybody. Does not suggest sexless. Asexual people sometimes do experience affectional (romantic) attraction.See Asexuality 101 for more information.

Some people don’t like and don’t use labels in addition to the above. Other folks identify as Questioning: a phrase utilized to describe an individual who is uncertain of or checking out their intimate orientation and/or sex identification.

Gender Identity and Expression

We affirm each person’s ability to evaluate on their own who they really are and go to town in the manner that is many authentic for their heart. We honor the diversity of truths that exists in your communities.

Gender is complex and multi-faceted. In North American culture several distinct areas of ourselves have lumped together as soon as we talk about “gender”:

• Biological Intercourse: attributes such as for instance physiology, chromosomes, and hormones this is certainly frequently assigned at inform and birth whether an individual is male, feminine, or intersex.
• Gender identification: An individual’s internal feeling of being a guy, a lady, neither of those, both, and so on—it is one’s internal feeling of being and one’s own comprehension of how one pertains to the sex binary. Apart from agender people, whom usually lack a internal feeling of sex, a lot of people have sex identity.
• Gender Expression: the ways a individual manifests masculinity, femininity, both, or neither through look, behavior, gown, speech patterns, choices, and more.

The social expectation is the fact that one’s biological sex, sex identification, and sex phrase will align in stereotypical means: that somebody who is male will identify being a boy/man and also have a masculine sex phrase, as an example. This expectation will not provide our world that is diverse and wide variety experiences of self which exist.

To get more definitions about sex identification and phrase, see Transgender 101. We likewise have resources for Queer and Trans Youth.

Going Deeper

Definitions can’t ever encompass whom we have been as complete people. The religious invitation is to get a get a cross divides of distinction and just just take dangers by authentically deciding to get acquainted with each other. Labels is tools of liberation or oppression—it’s all in exactly exactly exactly how we utilize them. Therefore do not stop with merely learning definitions. Listed here are three next actions for undoubtedly deepening your understanding.

1. Explore your sense that is own of: exactly exactly What perform some definitions above talk about for you personally? Exactly exactly just What language would you used to explain your very own feeling of self?
2. Communicate with people you trust about intimate orientation and sex identification. Question them respectfully what’s real for them and speak about things that confuse you or that you will be interested in.
3. Develop relationships with individuals that have various intimate orientations and sex identities from your. Be respectful of each and every person’s straight to privacy by asking open-ended concerns to find out about how they go through the globe.