Embedded Files
We know this is a stressful time, we hope that our resources are able to bring some comfort in this unstable time. We are experiencing this together!
What is Sexuality?
What is Sexuality?
Sexuality in modern day (last 50 years) has been a way of socially labeling or determining your preference when it comes to the attraction you have to other gender or sexual orientations. This definition has grown over the years that people have begin to interact more with the topic. We want to point out that being attracted to anyone you may find interesting, could be considered as queer attraction if you want it to, or it can always stay unlabeled. There is no pressure when it comes to identifying and figuring out how you feel about your sexual relationships. For a long time there needed to be language in place to identify consent for persuing a relationships or sexual activities, this is due to the danger of public outing could be. *disclaimer: we are discussing the consent to approach- not consent for sexual activity based on a sexual orientation* Furthermore, sexual orientation was to make sure that people didn't get hurt by the people who were considered homophobic or a danger to queer communities. For a long time gender identities were lumped into sexual idenitites because of the need to have supportive communities in order to stay alive.
Sexual identities now-a-days has become a out-dated system where many of us may still identify within it, but many of us know how to communicate our feelings about one another without the need to mention our sexual identities. However this applies to a small sector of able-out spoken members of the queer community who have learned other ways to communicate attraction consensually without direct mention of sexual identity. If you live in a rural or conservative areas relying on communication of sexual preference may come into conversation, but it's important to be safe and take caution when coming out to new groups. But being surrounded by those who love you for who you love, is important when it comes to coming out. If you want to know more about the common place sexual identities you can check out our LGBTQIA2S+ page (click to transfer pages).
Due to the changes of perception of gender many have reconsidered their ways of identifying in their sexual orientation. Queer as a term itself has become much more popular due to its anonymity and ambiguousness; Queer can be any non-straight interaction on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.
Sexuality in it's history typically falls back to women and the ways in which women (or primarily AFAB individuals) have been idolized as sexual objects, but also how they have broken through that barrier to show their interaction in what sexuality of the body and mind means to women. Women's feelings have been overlooked when it comes to the wants and desires of sex, while the male fantasy has been explored to the moon and back. There are a few poets in our human history who have documented any bit of the feminine (female) sexuality. Specifically when it comes to lesbian identities or experiences we have very few solid references in history due to the scrutiny and punishment for homosexuality.
'Sappho' who was alive during the 600-500BC and wrote several poems about the sexuality of the women and specifically about the sexuality that occurs with both sexes; investing her writing in both lesbian and heterosexual perspectives. (Example: Sappho's, Ode to Aphrodite) Emily Dickinson has also been famous writer who had well hidden metaphors for lesbian love that she hid in 'plain' poetry.
What is the Biological-Sexual Identity?
What is the Biological-Sexual Identity?
AFAB: Assigned Female At Birth, this is a term that is includes the majority of women who identify as cisgender women, transgender men, and non-binary folks, who are effected by the ownership of a 'traditionally' female body at birth. Traditional reproductive organs including but not limited to: Vagina, Cervix, Uterus, Ovaries, etc.
AMAB: Assigned Male At Birth, this is a term that includes the majority of men who identify as cisgender men, transgender women, and non-binary folks, who are effected by the ownership of a traditionally male body at birth. Genitalia including but not limited to: Prostate, Penis, Testes, Vas deferens, etc.
Intersex: There are also individuals who are intersex- and have a mixture of traditional sex characteristics; a percent of the population are born this way and some never find out. Intersex individuals have the right to live in their bodies however, and in whatever identity that they feel is right. As we briefly mentioned, many people have a slight variation and never find out they are intersex, due to the standard of assigning people to an oversimplified binary when deciding someone's sex based on developing body parts.
So, What is My Sexuality?
So, What is My Sexuality?
Deciding your sexuality is all up to you, you don't need to take on any specific identity in order to understand your sexuality. You should always make sure you are not socially appropriating an identity, and are taking care and acknowledgment. Beyond that sexuality and the sexual orientation are fluid identities, so even if you decide on a sexual orientation that describes your perception currently, that perception and therfore identity can also change. People learn to love and care about people around them in different ways, and often the more time we have on Earth the more experiences we have that show us these truths. It takes people a long time to realize that the things they were told about sexuality growing up, may not be exactly the way that sexuality or even sex works. There are lots of people in the queer community that don't find that part of themselves until later in life. This is also true about gender identity.
If you are wanting a break down of the LGBTQIA2S+ Identities we have page that does just that.
The LGBTQIA2S+ community is a diverse and vibrant group of people whose identities and experiences span sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and biological traits. The acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit, with the “+” recognizing additional identities such as pansexual, nonbinary, and genderfluid individuals.
The community represents individuals whose experiences differ from the traditional heteronormative and cisgender expectations of society. Sexual orientation refers to who a person is attracted to, while gender identity relates to one’s internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere along the gender spectrum. Intersex people may be born with biological characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female, and Two-Spirit is a cultural identity specific to Indigenous people that encompasses both masculine and feminine spirits.
The LGBTQIA2S+ community advocates for equality, visibility, safety, and acceptance. It seeks to challenge discrimination, promote understanding, and provide supportive spaces for individuals to express themselves freely. Recognizing and respecting these identities fosters inclusivity, mental well-being, and cultural awareness, ultimately strengthening society’s commitment to human rights and dignity for all.
Historically in societies under colonization, the way you were raised, the color of your sheets, the job you had (or weren't allowed to have), and the life you were allowed to lead as a whole, was all determined by your sex. Sex, as a form of identity, has often taken the name of gender as well; however, gender is a construct that relies on assigning itself to your assigned-at-birth-sex. Now this can get tricky to understand, but it's often easiest when we fully separate sexual (sex-assigned-at-birth) and gender (how one expresses oneself) identities. That doesn't mean that the two groups don't heavily overlap, it just means that they are inherently separate and are applied differently to our lives. To live life in any physical body comes with a lot of nuances and differences in that experience in comparison to others, and to flatten that experience based on an incorrectly held societal definition of a biological sex binary, does no service to the truth of human diversity.
The constructs of gender impact both AMAB and AFAB people in society via enforcement via patriarchy, but there is a need to highlight not just the historic rates of violence against AFAB people across society but to particularly hold space for the context of the weaponization of our own reproductive system against us in the context of sexual assault, pregnancy, and access to reproductive healthcare.
Society creates these gender roles for us to play into, and with enforcement via the power structures inherent to patriarchy, both AFAB folks and many groups within LGBTQ+ circles who are seen by many to be 'queering' from 'traditional values' (Christian heteronormative monogamy), are often active participants as reinforcers of the harms of gender roles.
Allosexual – A sexual identity term for a person who experiences sexual attraction.
Asexual – Abbreviated as "Ace". A sexual identity term for people who do not feel sexual attraction, experience little sexual attraction to others, or do not feel desire for a sexual partner or partners. Asexuality can be conceptualized as a continuum with identities along said continuum possessing their own identity labels. Some asexual individuals may still experience romantic attractions. Not all asexual people are aromantic. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy because celibacy is a choice.
BDSM – An acronym used in kink and fetish communities that stands for “Bondage & Discipline,” “Dominance & Submission” and “Sadism & Masochism” and describes a dynamic between partner(s). These practices may or may not be sexual and may take place continually throughout a relationship or for discrete periods of time, often referred to as “play.” These practices are often misunderstood as abusive, but when practiced in a safe, sane, and consensual manner they can be a part of a healthy sex life. Trust, consent, and intimacy are all important parts of BDSM. Please see “Safe, Sane and Consensual” for more information.
Bisexual – Sometimes shortened to “bi”. A sexual identity term that most often refers to a person who is attracted to:
people of multiple genders.
their own gender and another gender.
all genders (see pansexual).
men and women
This understanding of bisexuality has been critiqued for being reductive and not inclusive of transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer identities
Bisexuals can be attracted to a variety of genders to varying degrees. Some consider bisexual to be an umbrella term that encompasses all non-monosexual identities. When speaking generally about bisexuals or bisexuality, it is best to use and assume more inclusive definitions.
Bottom - An adjective describing a receptive sexual role, or a verb describing the act of performing a receptive sexual role. This can be used as a sexual identity term, or a description of a discrete sexual experience.
Demisexual – A sexual identity term for people who feel sexual attraction only to people with whom they have an emotional bond. Demisexuals vary in the quality (type) and intensity of their sexual desire, many feeling sexual attraction rarely and some having little to no interest in sexual activity. Some conceptualize demisexuality as a part of the asexual spectrum.
Dominant – Person who exercises control in a Dominant/Submissive relationship or BDSM activities. Can be used for any gender. (Masculine: Dom, Feminine: Domme)
Down Low – A term used to refer to men who may or may not explicitly identify as hetersosexual, who engage in relationships with women, but who engage in sex with men. Typically, these men do not identify themselves as gay or bisexual. The term originated in the Black community, but the behavior is not unique to any race, ethnicity, or culture.
Fluid – Generally with another term attached, like “genderfluid” or “fluid-sexuality,” “fluid(ity)” describes an identity that may change or shift over time between/within/without various identities.
Gay – A sexual identity term that most often refers to a person who is sexually attracted to a person of the same or a similar gender.
Grey Ace – A sexual identity term for people who experience very little, limited, or low sexual attraction, or only experience sexual attraction rarely. Grey Ace individuals are a part of the broader asexual community
Heterosexual – A sexual identity term that most often refers to men who are only sexually attracted to women and women who are only sexually attracted to men.
Homosexual – A sexual identity term that most often refers to a person who is sexually attracted to people of their same gender. Presently considered offensive and dated to many in the LGBTQIA2S+ community, though some still claim it as an identity.
Kink - A sexual practice or desire that falls outside of mainstream or commonplace understandings of sexuality.
Leather Community – A community which encompasses those who engage in leather, sado-masochism, bondage and domination, uniform, cowboys, rubber, and other fetishes. Although the leather community is often associated with the queer community, it is not a “gay-only” community.
Lesbian - A sexual identity term most commonly for women who are attracted to women.
Monosexual Identities – Sexual identity terms, like gay, straight, and lesbian, in which a person is attracted to one gender. This term is considered to be the opposite of polysexuality or bisexuality.
MSM – “Men who have sex with men,” men who engage in same-gender sexual behavior, but who may not necessarily self-identify as gay or queer.
Omnisexual – A sexual identity term that most often refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction to people of all and/or many gender identities/expressions. Also commonly shortened to “omni.”
Pansexual – A sexual identity term that most often refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction to people of all and/or many gender identities/expressions. Also commonly shortened to “pan.”
Polysexual Identities – Sexual identity terms, like bisexual and pansexual, in which a person is attracted to more than one gender. This term is considered by some to be the opposite of monosexual identities.
Safe, Sane, and Consensual – The phrase “Safe, Sane, and Consensual” sometimes shortened to SSC can be traced back to a Gay-Male-S/M Activists report from August 1983, which appears to be its earliest mention. It is thought that the “safe” and “sane” originated from the saying of having a “safe and sane” 4th of July celebration. The idea of having a good time while being careful seemed appropriate for BDSM and began to pick up in popularity. As BDSM communities became more cohesive and an accepted place to express our kinky interests, it became a saying of safety and ethical practice. The idea has continued to evolve among the BDSM culture.
Sexuality – A person’s sexual feelings, thoughts, desires, identities, values, and behaviors. This includes one’s sexual identity and romantic identity. Sexuality also includes the “who/what/where/when/why/how” of how each of us engages (or not) in sexual activity.
Sexual Behavior – The way a person acts or behaves sexually. Sexual behavior may or may not align with one’s sexual identity or sexual attractions. Sexual behavior includes the sexual activities that a person engages in (or does not engage in).
Sexual Identity – The language a person uses to describe themself as a sexual being. This is the more current term for sexual orientation. One’s sexual identity may or may not align with one’s sexual behavior or sexual attractions. A few common sexual identity terms include bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, gay, and straight. Frequently called Sexual Orientation
Straight – A slang term for heterosexual. First used in gay communities as slang: to “go straight" was to stop engaging in any form of queer sexual or romantic behavior.
Submissive – A person who allows themself to be dominated by a partner who may hold the identity of a dominant or dom within BDSM activities. This could take the form of a 24/7 dynamic, or an identity that exists within specific agreed-upon time and space.
Switch – A person who switches between sexual roles. Both dominant/submissive, top/bottom, etc.
Top - An adjective describing a giving sexual role, or a verb describing the act of performing a giving sexual role. This can be used as a sexual identity term, or a description of a discrete sexual experience.
WSW – “Women who have sex with women”. Women who engage in same-sex behavior, but who may not necessarily self-identify as lesbians.
Sexual Desires are not always up to us, sometimes our body can make decisions about the ways in which we feel. This however, does not take precedent over consent and other measures we use to protect ourselves and other's from harm. Even when we think we may be in the mood, it doesn't mean we won't change our minds about the sexual actions we are willing to participate in. Of course when it does come to expressing these emotions, there are ways to do so, in which you don't like inappropriately. Making sure we are good at communication and open to discussion on anything we may be expressing in the moment. There are parts of sexuality and sex, that need effective communication to make anyone's desires take place. It's important to also take into account the desires of the people you may be sexually active with. There is no good sexual interactions if you are not prioritizing your partner's pleasure. Sometimes we have to talk about how romantic relationships can exist without constant sexual interactions. In fact a sexual relationship doesn't have to exist at all for some couples to be happy and supportive of one another.
It's important to always prioritize the comfortability of all parties active in any sexual interaction. You want to make sure that the people around you are treating you and your body with the respect you need. We want to make sure that everyone is prepared to have consensual and respectful activities, instead of worrying about the act of sex itself.
Coming Out:
Coming Out:
Coming out to your parents, friends, teachers, and family (etc.) can be very difficult. Getting the courage enough to say to someone you love (and not the mirror) can be a big jump. For many people it can be jump out of fear into love and support, but for others these people can be an unsafe person to talk to. Unfortunately in several states, it is now required that teachers notify parents if a child comes forward about a queer identity. So when deciding whether or not to come out, it's important to start with someone you know you can trust and who will guarantee your safety and acceptance. If you don't feel like this is available for you, than it's important to be strong and brave in keeping yourself safe. No one in the queer community wants you to be in an unsafe environment because of coming out, so make sure you choose a time where you have safe resources if need be. Many parents especially young parents, are devoted to making sure a child feels comfortable coming out to them or know about the choices they have when it comes to love later in life.
What are Hate Crimes?
What are Hate Crimes?
Hate crimes are rooted in (Systemic) Systems of Oppression that have been upheld by historical/long-serving societal structures. Hate crimes are criminal acts motivated by bias or prejudice against a person or group based on characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Historically, these crimes have been used as tools of social control, intimidation, and oppression. In the United States, hate crimes were often associated with racial terror during the post-Reconstruction era, particularly through lynchings and violence aimed at Black Americans to reinforce segregation and white supremacy. Similarly, in Nazi Germany, state-sponsored hate crimes targeted Jews, Roma, and other minority groups as part of a genocidal regime.
In the modern era, hate crimes remain a serious issue globally. While civil rights advances have provided legal protections, incidents of hate-fueled violence persist. Modern hate crimes can range from vandalism of religious sites to violent attacks on individuals, such as the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting targeting LGBTQ+ individuals or anti-Asian violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The internet has also created new avenues for hate crimes, including cyber harassment and the efficient spread of extremist propaganda on new platforms.
Governments and international bodies have responded by enacting hate crime legislation, aiming to impose stricter penalties when bias is proven to be a motivating factor. However, enforcement and definitions vary widely by country. Tracking and reporting remain challenges, often due to underreporting or lack of legal frameworks.
How do Sexuality and Gender Interact?
How do Sexuality and Gender Interact?
Gender and Sexuality will always over lap because they are constructs we have yet to deconstruct socially. All of us love people and are attracted to different individuals, but none of us want to be persecuted for that love or the people our family and friends choose to love. We may not always see it but gender identity can have a huge effect on the ways in which identify in our sexuality and both of these things are fluid. Fluid meaning they can change with different stages of life and expereinces. Our experiences during sexual activities can change or roles can change dependent on your wants and needs in the sexual interaction; these can also occur with changes in gender identities as well. Sometimes sexual needs changes as changes in gender appear as well, and these are not things to ever feel ashamed of, but to embrace and communicate your way through your wants and needs.
Gender heavily affects all of our lives because of the systems that we all facilitate by participating in several of the social systems advertised to us each day. While it may be something we can't easily break free of, we all can take time to discover who we really are, and what constrains of the judgement might you face. None of us should feel as thought we can't comfortably be who we are just because of the possible reaction from the peers around us. Yet daily people are indeed harrassed for these very things, and a way we can combat this is by checking in on our queer friends and family to make sure that when we see people in need that we do not stand by, but run and rush to anyone's aid. You would always rather be an over cautious friend, than a bystander to a hate center crime.
Impacts of Identity
Impacts of Identity
There are some struggles when people want to imbedded in queer culture and queer identity without being an ally and lying or hiding parts of their sexual identity in order to keep or gain social/societal power. Of course when it comes to any identity there is never a time in which we should be taking on an identity without fully understanding the implications and experiences of that identity. Identities are never a halloween costume, and no identity or associated-behaviors should never be socially appropriated. There are many ways in which our identities can intersect and impact us more.
We all carry multiple identities, some we choose to have, some are assigned to us by society. The ways in which these identities overlap and interact, is called intersectionality. Intersectionality is a frame of looking at the ways that we carry multiple identities both oppressive identities and privileged identities, and the ways that our communities and societal structure responds to those identities intersecting. Even though they are often social constructs and systems of oppression, race, gender, disability/accessibility, sexual orientation, and presentation all greatly impact the way they are positioned by society and seen by the world. When we are in public and private spaces we are impacted by our identities, but more often we are impacted by their intersection. We all carry intersectional identities, that affect each of us differently. The ways in which we respond to that effect and call out the systems of oppression when safe and able to do so, will begin deconstructing the colonization of identity.
Sometimes when we find ourselves with identities that largely differ from each other; for example a cisgender AMAB person will have more power than any-gender AFAB person; however, the dynamic can change if a the cisgender AMAB person is carrying a BIPOC identity. We know that social systems directly impact how much power we are able to receive from society, but that doesn't mean we should play into the social constructs and oppressionary systems that cause us and others harm. However, we find that due to the replicated structures of patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, and religious nationalism (etc.), people are still finding themselves forced into participating in these systems. in order to survive.
Rape culture refers to a social environment in which sexual violence is normalized, excused, glorified and even implicitly encouraged through attitudes, behaviors, and institutions that delegitimize consent and blame survivors. Its origins are deeply rooted in historical power structures, gender norms, and colonial narratives that have evolved over centuries. In many early societies, women were viewed as property of fathers or husbands, and sexual violence was often framed not as a crime against the person harmed, but as a violation of a man’s ownership rights. These patriarchal systems established long-standing beliefs that men were entitled to women and AFAB bodies and that person's autonomy was secondary, which laid out the norms that dismissed or ignored the seriousness anf impact of sexual assault. Additionally, toxic-masculinity, the expectation that men should be dominant, sexually assertive, and emotionally detached, reinforced patterns in which aggression was tolerated and intimacy was undervalued.
Over time, media representations, legal systems, and social oppression systems perpetuated these ideas: jokes about assault, victim-blaming questions in courtrooms, and portrayals of coercion as romantic all contributed to an environment where survivors felt shame or disbelief rather than support. White Supremacy and Heteronormative Patriarchy further intensified these predatory and harmful behaviors, by imposing rigid gender and racial hierarchies using sexual violence as a tool of control. Even as modern societies have made progress in recognizing autonomy and consent, remnants of these historical beliefs persist in subtle ways, through the policing of women’s clothing, the pressure on men to perform gendered roles, or the readiness to question a survivor’s credibility. Rape culture, then, is not a single ideology but a intertwined net of inherited narratives and institutional practices that collectively shape how societies respond to sexual violence. Understanding its origins highlights that it is not natural or inevitable; it is the result of long-standing social choices and structures that can be challenged and changed. By examining how these harmful norms developed and why they still influence behavior and policy, communities can better work toward creating cultures that value informed consent, respect boundaries, and support survivors with dignity and seriousness.
Other pages like this:
Other pages like this:
There is always more research being done!
There is always more research being done!
If you would like to help us write about commonly silenced areas or personal experiences you may have with these topics, contact us at thisisactivism2023@gmail.com or fill out our Comments page. We want our website to be a continuous growth of knowledge to share with each other in a positive way. There are so many things we don't talk about and we should!
There is always more research being done!
There is always more research being done!
If you would like to help us write about commonly silenced areas or personal experiences you may have with these topics, contact us at thisisactivism2023@gmail.com or fill out our Comments page. We want our website to be a continuous growth of knowledge to share with each other in a positive way. There are so many things we don't talk about and we should!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse