Sexual Orientation and Preference
Sexual orientation refers to one's sexual response to others. It may be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or lesbian. Sexual orientation is preferred to sexual preference by some people, because preference implies that attraction is a choice instead of an innate characteristic. For others, sexual preference is acceptable or preferred, because it implies that primary sexual attraction is a choice, which may be fueled by sociopolitical reasons. Regardless, sexual orientation is a component of character and is different than sexual behavior, as some people are psychologically attracted to both sexes but have sex with only one.
Transgender
Transgender (TG) refers to people who for various reasons adopt a gender identity that is incongruent with their original psychological status or with the status imposed on them by dominant culture (i.e., man, woman). Transgender also refers to people who alter their sexual anatomy, through surgery or hormone use. The term, therefore, describes non-, pre-, and post-operative transsexuals (who are surgically removing or replacing sex and reproductive organs, or taking hormones; known as transitioning) and transvestites (who wear clothes conventionally associated with the opposite sex).
Transgender people may consider themselves to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, heterosexual, or none of these. They may identify explicitly with being male or female, a man or a woman, or they may not identify with any of these.
Intersexual
The term "intersexual" refers to those who possess biological characteristics of both sexes or sexual anatomy that is indeterminable.
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