Sexual orientation & Gender identity
What is sexual orientation?
Sexual orientation describes who we are sexually attracted to. Some people are attracted to people of the opposite sex, while others are attracted to people of the same sex. Some people are attracted to both sexes.
Sexuality is different for everyone and is a natural part of who you are.
Many people know from a young age what their sexual orientation is. Your sexuality can be the same all your life, or it might change as you have relationships with different people.
There are lots of ways that people describe their sexual orientation. People may describe themselves as gay, lesbian, heterosexual, bisexual, queer, or something else.
What is gender identity?
Gender identity is about how we see ourselves. Everyone has a gender identity.
While most people identify with the sex they were born with (male or female), many identify with a gender that is different from the sex they were assigned at birth, for example:
you were assigned female at birth, but you see yourself as a male
you were assigned male at birth, but you see yourself as a female
you see yourself somewhere between male and female
People who don’t see themselves as male or female sometimes describe themselves as nonbinary.
Language is important
The language around sexuality and gender identity has changed over time as society better understands people’s different experiences. The acronym LGBTIQA describes the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community, intersex, queer, and asexual communities.
Many cultures use different words to describe sexuality and gender identities. For example, Māori use the word takatāpui to describe Māori who are not heterosexual. Fa’afafine is a Samoan word and describes someone who is in a separate gender from a male or female.
Questions and want to know more
Sexual orientation and gender identity can be tricky to understand. Here are New Zealand websites if you want to learn more.
Rainbow Youth: www.ry.org.nz
Inside out: www.insideout.ry.org.nz
Takatāpui: www.takatapui.nz
I’m Local: www.imlocal.co.nz
Outline: www.outline.org.nz