Sexual orientation

The term sexual orientation refers to the gender of a person's preferred sexual or romantic partner, generally held to be inherent or otherwise not amenable to deliberate change.

In the latter half of the 20th century, opinion was divided into those who believed sexual orientation should conform to moral and religious codes and others who advocated that people discover and celebrate their sexual orientation.

Some religions had said variously that homosexual acts or homosexual orientation itself was sinful. Many people, including psychologists and theologians, began to regard sexual orientation as fixed at birth or otherwise not a matter of deliberate choice. On these grounds, they declared homosexuality normal and acceptable.

See: sexual behavior, homosexuality, bisexuality