How one sees tbemselves physically: male, female or in-between (spectrum). f someone is born female, but wishes to see their body as male in all respects, their sexual identity is male. It is rude to speak of such a person as female, since it denies their right to inhabit the social and physical role of their choosing.

This is what we call ourselves. Such labels include "lesbian, "gay, "bisexual, "bi, "queer, "questioning, "undecided, "undetermined, "heterosexual, "straight, "asexual, and others. Sexual identity evolves through a multi-stage developmental process that has been charted by a number of researchers. This progression varies in intensity and duration depending on the individual. Our sexual behavior and how we define ourselves (our identity) can be chosen. Though some people claim their sexual orientation is also a choice, for others, this does not seem to be the case.

Label one gives oneself. Many—but not all—women who partner with women choose to call themselves “lesbian” or “gay.” Other women who have sex with women may identify as “heterosexual,” and women who sometimes have sex with men call themselves “lesbian.” Sexual identity is not the same as sexual behavior or sexual orientation. For health providers, knowing about sexual behavior is more important than knowing a patient’s sexual identity or orientation.

The sense of being male or female and all that goes with it, including issues of gender identity, gender role, and sexual orientation.

how one perceives oneself as male, female, or in between. A biological female may identify as a male and vice versa.

Sexual identity is a term that, like sex, has two distinctively different meanings.

A person's acknowledgment of their sexual orientation; heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.