"Sexual orientation" is a term frequently used to describe a
person's romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to another
person. A person attracted to another person of the same sex is
said to have a homosexual orientation and may be called gay
(both men and women) or lesbian. Individuals attracted to
persons of the other sex are said to have a heterosexual
orientation. Sexual orientation falls along a continuum and
individuals who are attracted to both men and women are said to
be bisexual. Sexual orientation is different from gender
identity, which refers to the internal sense of whether one is
male or female. Sexual orientation is a relatively new concept.
In fact, although same sex behavior has always existed, the idea
of a homosexual identity or a homosexual person is only about
100 years old. The concept of sexual orientation refers to more
than sexual behavior. It includes feelings as well as identity.
Some individuals may identify themselves as gay, lesbian or
bisexual without engaging in any sexual