Sexual diversity or gender and sexual diversity (GSD), refers to all the diversities of
sex characteristics,
sexual orientations and
gender identities, without the need to specify each of the identities, behaviors, or characteristics that form this plurality.
Overview
In the
Western world, generally simple classifications are used to describe sexual orientation (
heterosexuals,
homosexuals and
bisexuals), gender identity (
transgender and
cisgender), and related minorities (
intersex), gathered under the acronyms
LGBTQ
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
or
LGBTQIA+ (
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual,
asexual,
transgender/
transsexual people, and sometimes
intersex people); however, other cultures have other ways of understanding the sex and
gender systems. Over the last few decades, some
sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, Human sexual activity, behaviors, and functions. The term ''sexology'' does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social crit ...
theories have emerged, such as
Kinsey theory and
queer theory, proposing that this classification is not enough to describe the sexual complexity in human beings and, even, in other
animal species.
For example, some people may feel an intermediate sexual orientation between heterosexual and bisexual (
heteroflexible) or between homosexual and bisexual (
homoflexible). It may vary over time, too (
sexual fluidity), or include attraction not only towards women and men, but to all the spectrum of sexes and genders (
pansexual).
In other words, within bisexuality there exists a huge diversity of typologies and preferences that vary from an exclusive heterosexuality to a complete homosexuality (
Kinsey scale).
Sexual diversity includes
intersex people, those born with a variety of intermediate features between women and men. It also includes
transgender and transsexed people,
genderfluid people, and so on.
Lastly, sexual diversity also includes
asexual people, who feel disinterest in sexual activity;
and all those who consider that their identity cannot be defined, such as
queer people.
Socially, sexual diversity is claimed as the acceptance of being different but with equal rights, liberties, and opportunities within the
Human Rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
framework. In many countries, visibility of sexual diversity is vindicated during
Pride Parades.
Pride Weekend events celebrate gender and sexual diversity in Oxford.
The Daily Mississippian. 17 may 2017.
See also
References
{{Sex
LGBTQ