Same-sex attraction is an intense interest in members of the same sex. This interest may include desires for their attention, friendship, intimacy, and/or a fascination with their bodies and other gender traits. It may also include erotic thoughts and sexual behavior with others of the same sex.

The term homosexuality refers to the entire complex that includes attractions, feelings, desires, sexual behavior, identity, self-perception, emotional dependencies, and relationships.

Some people prefer to use the terms same-sex attraction (SSA) or same-gender attraction (SGA) to avoid the clinical and psychiatric misunderstandings that may come by using the term homosexuality. A person who experiences same-sex attraction or same-gender attraction may experience

• Intense attractions (which may or may not be sexual or erotic) without sexual behavior or
• Complete emotional and sexual involvement.

The term homosexual is a clinical term that may be offensive when used as a noun to identify individuals who are trying to overcome same-sex attraction as well as those who embrace a gay identity. The former typically prefer the terms same-sex attraction or same-gender attraction and the latter prefer the terms gay (referring to men) and lesbian (referring to women). Homosexual may appropriately be used as an adjective, such as homosexual behavior.

The terms gay (referring to men) and lesbian (referring to women) refer not only to personal feelings and behaviors, but they also describe a political, cultural, and social identity.

Whether or not sexual orientation (in the sense of an underlying same-sex, opposite-sex, dual-sex, or other spontaneous attraction) exists, and whether or not it can be changed is a matter of some controversy. See sexual orientation, environment, choice, and sexual orientation, ex-gay, and genetics and sexual orientation.

See also

• Terminology of homosexuality
• Ex-gay

Sexual attraction | Sexual orientation | Sexual orientation and identity