Sexual Orientation: There are two quite different meanings to this term:
- Gays, lesbians, sociologists, psychologists, researchers into human sexuality, members of liberal and some mainline faith groups normally define this as:
* A measure of a person's feelings of sexual attraction to males and females. There are three sexual orientations, all of which are normal, natural, and fixed in adults:
** heterosexuals are attracted to the opposite gender only
** homosexuals are attracted to the same gender only
** bisexuals are attracted to both men and women; not necessarily to the same degree
- Evangelical Christians and some mainline faith groups often define the term more broadly:
* A measure of a person's feelings of sexual attraction to men and women, animals, and children. Some sexual orientations are heterosexuality, homosexuality, bestiality, pedophilia. Only the first is normal and natural. Many conservative Christians do not acknowledge the existence of bisexuals, believing people to be either heterosexual or homosexual. They often use the term "sexual preference" in place of "sexual orientation." This implies that orientation is a choice.
* Some conservative Christians include within the definition of "sexual orientation" a number of other behaviors, such as: polygamy, incest, pedophilia, and bestiality. They are unique in this usage.