The gender to whom a person is attracted.
Persistent emotional, affectionate, romantic, or erotic attraction to persons of a particular sex. Three sexual orientations are recognized. Heterosexuality refers to attraction to members of the opposite sex; homosexuality, to members of the same sex; and bisexuality, to members of both sexes. Homosexual people are also referred to as “gay” and homosexual women as “lesbian.” Heterosexual people may be known as “straight.”