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Sexuality can be so confusing! So many terms, concepts, and ideas that it is sometimes hard to keep up with. So, let's break it down a bit.

Sexual orientation is a person's natural attraction to others. This refers to how people think and feel.

Sexual behavior is the sexual activity in which a person chooses to engage. This refers to what people do.

Sexual identity is how a person identifies herself or himself. This refers to what people say and choose to call themselves, or identify themselves.

The question a lot of people ask is…Can a person's sexual identity be different from their sexual orientation and sexual behavior?The answer to this question is YES !! An example of this is a woman who chooses to identify as heterosexual and has sex with women.

Why do you think someone's sexual identity might be different from their sexual orientation?

LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) people are often grouped together because they face similar forms of discrimination. This discrimination is often based on who they love and how they express their gender. It is important to remember that with these titles, there is also an amazing amount of diversity even within these communities! It is important to be reminded that there is not just one way of "being gay", and to learn about people living all along the gender continuum.

The Gender Continuum: In our society we have been trained to think of gender as a magnet, with two opposite poles (male and female) that attract. Biological sex and gender is more of a broad spectrum with many points than a bar with two poles.

Biological Sex: This can be considered our "packaging" and is determined by our chromosomes (XX for females; XY for males); our hormones (estrogen/progesterone for females, testosterone for males); and our internal and external genitalia (vulva, clitoris, vagina for females, penis and testicles for males).

Gender Identity: Our innermost concept of self as " male" or "female"—what we perceive and call ourselves. Many people develop a gender identity that matches their biological sex. For some, however, their gender identity is different from their biological sex.

Transgender: Refers to those whose gender expression at least sometimes runs contrary to what others in the same culture would normally expect. Transgender is a broad term that includes transsexuals, cross-dressers, drag queens/kings, and people who do not identify as either of the two sexes as currently defined. When referring to transgender people, use the pronoun they have designated as appropriate, or the one that is consistent with their presentation of themselves.

Sexual Orientation: This is determined by our sexual and emotional attractions. Categories of sexual orientation include homosexuals—gay, lesbian—attracted to some members of the same sex; bisexuals, attracted to some members of more than one sex; and heterosexuals, attracted to some members of another sex.

Queer: Historically a negative term used against people perceived to be LGBT, "queer" has more recently been reclaimed by some people as a positive term describing all those who do not conform to rigid notions of gender and sexuality. Queer is often used in a political context and in academic settings to challenge traditional ideas about identity ("queer theory").

Questioning: Refers to people who are uncertain as to their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are often seeking information and support during this stage of their identity development.

Straight Ally: Any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people.

Homophobia: Refers to a fear or hatred of homosexuality.

Heterosexism: Bias against non-heterosexuals based on a belief in the superiority of heterosexuality. Heterosexism does not imply the same fear and hatred as homophobia. It can describe seemingly innocent statements, such as "She'd drive any man wild" based on the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm.

I know that this can all be confusing, so please don't forget that you can email me, or post a comment below if you have any questions!!