The following is a piece of Deviant Pillowtalk – Defining the sexual orientation:

First off I want to clear a few misconceptions by giving definitions of various words that we use on a daily basis. Heterosexual: Sexually oriented to persons of the opposite sex. Lesbian: A woman whose sexual orientation is to women. Gay: A person whose sexual orientation is to the same sex (this can be men or women). Transvestite: A person who dresses and acts in a style or manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. Transexual: A person who has undergone a sex change operation, or a person whose sexual identification is entirely with the opposite sex. Drag Queen: A man who dresses as a woman. Transgender: Appearing as or wishing to be considered as a member of the opposite sex. Bisexual: A person whose sexual orientation is to either sex.

I was pulled in by the title, and overly disappointed with the contents. The good intentions of the author seem to have been lost in her attempt to… um… educate.

Here’s a better look at the components of sexual orientation and gender. Orientation here is shown as it feeds into gender identity. I can’t get to the original post, so I am linking you to Alas (a blog)’s discussion on it. Here’s a taste:

Gender is getting more complex, and interesting, every year. Transsexuals used to be understood as “a man stuck in a woman’s body” or vice versa. Happily, that understanding of transsexuality and transgenderism is being replaced in practice by an understanding infinitely richer and more interesting.

Jasperboi – a transgendered writer who recently came out as a “female-bodied man” – suggests the following componants of gender:

* Core identity (how you see yourself)
* Biological sex (the official opinion of who you are)
* Sexual/romantic attractions (who you gravitate towards)
* Sexual/romantic attractiveness (who gravitates toward you)
* Gender expression (mannerisms, clothes, affinities, interests)
* Social perception (what conclusions people tend to make of you)

Also, take a look at A Sexual Orientation Worksheet.

Things just aren’t as simple as Deviant Pillowtalk would have you believe.