Sexual identity

Sexual identity refers to an individual's perception or identification of their own sexual orientation and is usually used interchangeably, though this is not necessarily correct. For example, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig, George Alan Rekers and many others on the Republican right have a sexual identity that is heterosexual since that's how they referred to their own orientation, even though their behavior would suggest they are as gay as Mr. Slave from South Park (or at the very least bisexual).

Past models of LGBTQ+ youths examining changes undergone in the formation of sexual identity over time see it as a process undergone only by those sexual minorities, whereas our current understanding present sexual identity within a much larger scope along with other identity theories.

In a 1990 study by the Social Organization of Sexuality, only 16% of women and 36% of men who reported some level of same-sex attraction had a homosexual or bisexual identity.

In a 2019 survey by The Trevor Project, more than 1 in 5 LGBTQ youth described themselves as something other than gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

List of sexual identities
Basically, all words ending with “-sexuality.”
 * Heterosexuality refers to the pattern of attraction between opposite sexes.
 * Homosexuality refers to the pattern of attraction between same sexes.
 * Bisexuality refers to the pattern of attraction towards both sexes.
 * Asexuality refers to the pattern of attraction between... well... no one.
 * Pansexuality refers to the pattern of attraction between people regardless of their sex or gender identity.
 * Polysexuality refers to the pattern of attraction towards many sexual orientations but not all of them.