People whose sexual desire and activities are strongly channelled toward members of their own sex are a minority of the population (estimated to be roughly 2%). Nevertheless, many other people who are in general heterosexual may have mild or occasional interest in members of their own sex.
Conversely, many people who identify themselves as homosexual, or who might prefer homosexual activities or relationships, have engaged in heterosexual activities or even have long-term heterosexual relationships. (Such "heterosexual" behavior by people who would otherwise be homosexual has often been part of being "in the closet", or concealing one's homosexuality, and may be becoming less common as acceptance of homosexuality increases.)
People whose sexual interest and/or activities generally include persons of both sexes are known as bisexuals.
Some studies, notably [Sexual Behavior in the Human Male]? (1948) and [Sexual Behavior in the Human Female]? (1953) by Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey, note that when asked to rate themselves on a continuum from completely heterosexual to completely homosexual, and when the individuals behavior as well as their identify is analyzed, the majority of people appear to be at least somewhat bisexual. Most people have some attraction to either sex, although usually one sex is preferred. Only a minority (5-10%) can be considered fully heterosexual or homosexual. Conversely, only an even smaller minority can be considered "fully" bisexual.
While homosexuality has been present in almost all societies since the dawn of time, the forms in which it has been found vary widely. Anthropologists who have studied homosexuality distinguish three main types of homosexuality: gender-structured, age-structured and egalitarian.
In gender-structured homosexuality, each partner plays the role of a different gender. Examples of gender-structured homosexuality include the butch/femme distinction found among some modern Western lesbians (although butch/femme is in decline).
In age-structured homosexuality, the partners are of different ages. Examples of this include pederasty among the ancient Greek elite (sex between adolescents and older men was socially respectable, but sex between grown men much less so) and traditional Melanesia?n insemination rituals (where adolescents would fellate older males as part of the process of initiation). (Some might see some modern pedophilia as being an example of age-structured homosexuality, but it is different in that it is not socially acceptable, unlike the Greek or Melanesian practices.)
Both gender-structured and age-structured homosexuality frequently involve one partner adopting a 'passive' and the other an 'active' role. Among men, being the passive partner often means being the receptacle of semen, i.e. performing fellatio and being the receptive partner in anal sex. This may mean an emphasis on the sexual pleasure of the active partner, although dogmatism about this is unwise. (In gender-structured female homosexuality in Thailand, active partners (toms) emphasise the sexual pleasure of the passive partner (dee), and often refuse to allow their dee to pleasure them.)
In egalitarian homosexuality, the partners are of equal age and both play the same socially-accepted sex role as heterosexuals of their own sex. Egalitarian homosexuality is increasingly dominating the Western world, replacing age- and gender-structured homosexuality within it; and from the West egalitarian homosexuality is spreading to non-Western societies as well, although they maintain a much higher incidence of non-egalitarian than the West does.
Some anthropologists have argued for the existence of a fourth type of homosexuality, class-structured homosexuality; but many scholars believe that this has no independent existence from the other three types.
See also homosexual, religion and homosexuality, sexual behaviors, homophobia
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