12 Sexual orientation terms you haven’t heard about

                                                                                            (C)CouncilForrelationships

These terms are related to sexual and romantic identities and are beginning to receive media attention but that are still regularly absent or erased from conversations currently taking place in popular culture.

Asexual
This refers to “ someone who does not experience sexual attraction.” Asexuality.org also notes, "Asexuals may regard other people as aesthetically attractive without feeling sexual attraction to them. Some asexual people also experience the desire of being affectionate to other people without it being sexual. If you do not experience sexual attraction, you might identify as asexual."
 
Aromantic
An aromantic is a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others. According to Asexuality.org,  aromantics do not lack emotional/personal connection, but simply have no instinctual need to develop connections of a romantic nature. Aromantics can have needs for just as much empathetic support as romantics, but these needs can be fulfilled in a platonic way. Being aromantic is usually “ considered to be innate and not a personal choice,” in the same way that asexuality is considered innate.

Graysexual
Jared, one man who identifies as graysexual, defines the term as a "magical place between asexual and someone who is sexual." The Frisky defines it as "something more fluid between sexuality and asexuality." Those who identify as graysexual might also identify as gay or straight or any other sexual identity inside or outside of the binary.

Demisexual
Someone who identifies as demisexual doesn’t typically feel sexual attraction unless they “have already formed a strong emotional bond with the person.” Asexualityarchive.com also notes that “the bond may or may not be romantic in nature.”

Demiromantic
Similar to a demisexual, the individual doesn’t feel romantic attraction “unless they have already formed a strong emotional bond with the person.”

Lithromantic
The term is described as “a person who experiences romantic love but does not want their feelings to be reciprocated.” Lithromantic people “may or may not be ok with romantic relationships.”

Pansexual
Pansexual refers to those “who feel they are sexually/emotionally/spiritually capable of falling in love with all genders.”

Polysexual
Similar to pansexual, a polysexual person “may be attracted to some gender variant people but not have the capability or desire to be with some others.”

Panromantic
A person who is romantically -- but not sexually -- attracted to others regardless of sex or gender.

Skoliosexual
According to Genderqueerid.com, skoliosexual refers to “sexual attraction to non-binary identified individuals" or those who do not identify as cisgender. This does not generally describe an attraction to specific genitalia or birth assignments but rather is an inclusive term.

Queerplatonic Relationships
Relationships that “are not romantic in nature but they involve very close emotional connections that are often deeper or more intense than what is traditionally considered a friendship.”

Zucchini
The name for a partner who is involved in a queerplatonic relationship, as in "he's my zucchini."

Source: HuffingtonPost