Sexual orientation describes enduring patterns of attraction—emotional, romantic, and/or sexual—that individuals may experience. It is not a rigid category but a spectrum of possibilities, shaped by culture, language, and personal discovery. Orientation may shift over time, and no single label can encompass every variation. Below are widely recognized identities:
Heterosexual (Straight): Attraction to people of a different gender. Often culturally assumed as the “default,” though not universally across societies or worlds.
Homosexual (Gay/Lesbian): Attraction to people of the same gender. “Gay” is commonly used for men loving men, while “lesbian” refers specifically to women loving women.
Bisexual: Attraction to more than one gender, though not necessarily in equal measure. Bisexuality recognizes attraction across gender boundaries.
Pansexual: Attraction regardless of gender, with emphasis on the person rather than gender identity.
Queer: A reclaimed umbrella term for identities outside heterosexual or cisnormative structures. Its meaning is intentionally fluid and inclusive, though its use can vary by culture.
Cultural Notes: In some realms, heterosexuality is linked to inheritance and lineage, while in others, same-gender love is honored by gods of beauty or creativity. Polytheistic cultures may associate different orientations with specific divine patrons, framing love as sacred in all its forms.
Asexuality describes little to no sexual attraction. It is not a lack of intimacy or closeness, but a different way of relating to desire. The ace spectrum includes many experiences:
Asexual (Ace): Experiences little or no sexual attraction. May still pursue romance or emotional bonds.
Demisexual: Sexual attraction arises only after a strong emotional connection is formed.
Graysexual: Attraction occurs infrequently, faintly, or under specific circumstances.
Key Concepts:
Being ace does not equal being aromantic; many aces deeply desire romance or companionship.
Asexuality is distinct from abstinence or celibacy, which are choices rather than orientations.
Cultural myths sometimes frame aces as “cold” or “unfeeling,” but ace identities embrace rich forms of emotional and relational depth.
Lore Example: Certain monastic orders in fantasy settings honor ace devotees as “keepers of clarity,” believing their distance from sexual desire allows deeper focus on divine or arcane mysteries.
Aromantic identities describe little to no romantic attraction, separate from sexual desire. The aro spectrum allows many shades of experience:
Aromantic (Aro): Experiences little or no romantic attraction. May still enjoy sexual activity or deep friendships.
Demiromantic: Romantic feelings arise only after strong emotional bonds form.
Grayromantic: Experiences romantic attraction rarely or under unique circumstances.
Key Concepts:
Aromantic people can and do form meaningful, committed partnerships without romance.
Platonic bonds, chosen families, or alterous (between-platonic-and-romantic) ties can be central to identity.
In storytelling, aro identities challenge assumptions that every hero or heroine must end with a romance arc.
Lore Example: In certain cultures, aromantic knights form sworn brotherhoods or sisterhoods bound by loyalty rather than romantic love. Their vows are celebrated as sacred as marriage.
Beyond the most recognized orientations, many terms describe the varied textures of attraction:
Polysexual: Attraction to multiple genders, but not all.
Omnisexual: Similar to pansexual, but explicitly acknowledges gender as a factor in attraction.
Heteroflexible / Homoflexible: Primarily attracted to one gender, but occasionally to another.
Skoliosexual: Attraction to nonbinary or gender-diverse individuals.
Questioning: Exploring or uncertain of one’s orientation, often an important stage of growth.
Androsexual / Gynesexual: Attraction toward masculine or feminine expressions, regardless of gender identity.
Abrosexual: Orientation that shifts fluidly over time.
Lore Example: In certain magical realms, abrosexual individuals are described as “heart-shifters,” their attraction waxing and waning like the phases of the moon.
Attraction Types: Attraction can be sexual, romantic, platonic, aesthetic (drawn to appearance), or alterous (between romance and friendship).
Fluidity: Orientation may change across a lifetime, or even within shorter cycles of mood, growth, or discovery.
Identity vs. Behavior: Orientation is about attraction, not action. Someone may identify as gay yet live heterosexually due to pressure, or vice versa.
Intersection: Orientation intersects with gender identity, culture, class, and spiritual worldview.
Visibility: Some identities gain social recognition while others remain hidden, stigmatized, or unnamed.
Community: Many orientations gain strength from shared culture, language, and safe spaces where labels become tools of empowerment.
Across worlds and pantheons, sexualities are often framed through myth and law:
In some societies, heterosexual unions are prized for procreation, while same-gender love is celebrated in temples of art, poetry, and war.
Aromantic and asexual people may be revered as sages, priests, or strategists—respected for clarity unclouded by passion.
Deities of trickery or transformation often bless queer and fluid identities, framing their love as sacred rebellion.
Oppressive cultures may stigmatize certain orientations, creating underground networks where secret love stories flourish.
These mythic lenses allow orientations to become not just personal truths, but sources of power, culture, and divine favor.
Sexualities and orientations are not prisons of definition but tools of self-knowledge. Some embrace multiple labels; others reject them altogether. The health of any identity rests in authenticity, respect, and the freedom to live truthfully.
In every culture—mortal or divine—the gods of love, freedom, and desire whisper the same truth: the heart is vast, and its paths are many.