What is the Difference Between Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation?

The National Education Association (NEA) defines sexual orientation as an individual's identity based on their attraction to people of different genders than their own, the same gender, or both genders. This is in contrast to gender identity, which is a person's internal sense of being male, female, or somewhere else on the gender spectrum. Transgender is a broad term used to describe individuals whose gender identity does not match their biological sex or the sex assigned to them at birth. The acronym LGBTQI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex.

Specifically, sexual orientation is a person's self-identification as bisexual, heterosexual, homosexual, pansexual, etc. In other words, gender identity is an individual's internal sense of self while sexual orientation is an individual's attraction to people of different genders than their own. Gender identity is a person's internal understanding of themselves while sexual orientation is an individual's attraction to people of different genders than their own. Gender identity and sexual orientation are two distinct concepts that are often confused. Gender identity is a person's internal sense of self while sexual orientation is an individual's attraction to people of different genders than their own.

Gender identity is not determined by sexual orientation and vice versa. It is important to understand the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation in order to create an inclusive environment for all individuals regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. It is also important to recognize that gender identity and sexual orientation are fluid concepts that can change over time.