Romantic Orientation vs. Sexual Orientation

Contributor: pestilence pestilence
Relatively recently I was introduced to the concept of romantic attraction as something that can be separate from sexual attraction, and although I don't completely understand it on an intuitive level I've learned that some of my friends have different romantic & sexual orientations (the one who introduced me to the concept is a heteroromantic bisexual, who in high school would be accused of "faking bisexuality for attention" because she had only been in relationships with men).

How does your romantic orientation match up with your sexual orientation, and if they are different, how do you experience this in your everyday life?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
my romantic orientation is the same as my sexual orientation
45
my romantic orientation and sexual orientation overlap somewhat
27
my romantic orientation and sexual orientation are completely different
8
I'm heteroromantic
13
I'm homoromantic
8
I'm bi- or panromantic
28
I'm aromantic
3
I'm heterosexual
5
I'm homosexual
8
I'm bi- or pansexual
36
I'm asexual
5
other!
7
Total votes: 193 (97 voters)
Poll is closed
07/16/2012
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Contributor: GingerAnn GingerAnn
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07/16/2012
Contributor: marshmallow marshmallow
Mine definitely overlap somewhat, that's why I identify as queer!
07/16/2012
Contributor: Femme Mystique Femme Mystique
I'm homoromantic and homosexual.
07/16/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
I'm pan on all fronts - romantic and sexual. I like that some folks are learning to acknowledge and respect the difference between sexual and romantic orientation, though.
07/17/2012
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
Quote:
Originally posted by pestilence
Relatively recently I was introduced to the concept of romantic attraction as something that can be separate from sexual attraction, and although I don't completely understand it on an intuitive level I've learned that some of my friends have ... more
This is interesting! I've never heard of the concept of romantic orientation before. Mine overlap. I guess I'd consider myself heteroromantic and bisexual.
07/18/2012
Contributor: Sangsara Sangsara
Trying to figure out the romanticism part- haven't fallen for a chick yet but definitely drool over them. I think I'm equally attracted to males as females- I've admired more females but I've been with more males so it balances out.
07/18/2012
Contributor: xGOLDx xGOLDx
Mine line up, but I am glad that people starting to learn more about this. I get very frustrated when people try to identify as bisexual when it is nothing more than sexual curiosity and/or attraction. I think it is incredibly different to have a same sex romantic relationship than to have a same sex sexual relationship.
07/21/2012
Contributor: Mitzuki Mitzuki
Mine are one in the same.
07/22/2012
Contributor: britanny0620 britanny0620
I find that although I identify as pansexual and panromantic, as far as sexually I've been known to favor girls, but my relationships with guys have been either longer, more meaningful, or both to me. That may just be the specific people, though.
07/24/2012
Contributor: digit88 digit88
Quote:
Originally posted by pestilence
Relatively recently I was introduced to the concept of romantic attraction as something that can be separate from sexual attraction, and although I don't completely understand it on an intuitive level I've learned that some of my friends have ... more
same
07/24/2012
Contributor: nori nori
homoromantic, but bi/pansexual.
07/24/2012
Contributor: ChickenFeathers ChickenFeathers
Romantic and sexual orientation both hetero.
07/24/2012
Contributor: Girly Juice Girly Juice
For me, it varies from month to month or year to year, but it seems like my sexual and romantic orientations rarely line up perfectly. Sometimes I feel like a heteroromantic bisexual; other times I feel more like a biromantic heterosexual; occasionally I feel like a biromantic homosexual. It's confusing! So I usually just use the word "queer" to describe my orientation.
07/25/2012
Contributor: glitterbombs glitterbombs
I'm pan on all fronts, and I can't even imagine having a differing romantic and sexual orientation -- but that's probably not surprising, since I connect sex and romantic love together in general.
07/25/2012
Contributor: NightKat NightKat
I'm really glad to see this being acknowledged! Heteroromantic and bisexual is what fits me best.
07/25/2012
Contributor: Vurdalak Vurdalak
I am still so confused about my sexual and romantic orientations. I don't know if it's even possible but it seems somewhat random.
08/03/2012
Contributor: lukas24 lukas24
I'm aro/ace. I seem to be the only asexual.... Then again, I'm mostly interested in the gender products and not the sex stuff.
08/08/2012
Contributor: aluminummm aluminummm
Is there a category for "not romantically interested in cis-het dudes ever ever ever"?
08/09/2012
Contributor: Danneh Danneh
Quote:
Originally posted by lukas24
I'm aro/ace. I seem to be the only asexual.... Then again, I'm mostly interested in the gender products and not the sex stuff.
I'm ace. but I'm a panromantic- and I actually really like sex. Sex feels good- I just don't... feel attracted to anyone ever. Or get the particular urge to have it. But when I do it's lovely.
08/10/2012
Contributor: bdan bdan
They are mostly the same.
08/31/2012
Contributor: pleasurehunter pleasurehunter
im attracted to both seuals but heteromantic. not sure how it came out that way i just lean towards my first preference
09/01/2012
Contributor: MidnightStorm MidnightStorm
I'm pansexual in both romance and sexual orientation.
10/15/2012
Contributor: genderbinary genderbinary
Quote:
Originally posted by aluminummm
Is there a category for "not romantically interested in cis-het dudes ever ever ever"?
That really should be an option hahaha
10/15/2012
Contributor: buttcleavage buttcleavage
I identify as a pansexual greyace.
10/18/2012
Contributor: Alyxx Alyxx
I'm pan sexual and I suppose mostly heteroromantic. I'm very sexually attracted to women but I haven't met many I would want a romantic relationship with. Too much estrogen in one relationship for me, I think. Then again, I don't get along with many women in general so it doesn't surprise me much. There have been one or two women I would have loved to have dated, but things never worked out that way with them.
10/18/2012
Contributor: loveme loveme
My romantic and sexual orientation match. But I would agree that there is a difference between the two. I know quite a few ladies that are only sexually attracted to other femAles, but wouldn't be in a relationship with Another woman.
10/29/2012
Contributor: Martiniman Martiniman
One in the same.
11/17/2012
Contributor: Lacey- Lacey-
I tend to be more romantically attracted to men, and more sexually attracted to women. But there is definitely lots of overlap, so it's not really a problem. I just tend to push for threesomes now that I'm dating a guy, cause I miss playing with girls.
11/17/2012
Contributor: XxXxX XxXxX
Quote:
Originally posted by pestilence
Relatively recently I was introduced to the concept of romantic attraction as something that can be separate from sexual attraction, and although I don't completely understand it on an intuitive level I've learned that some of my friends have ... more
I am interested in anyone sexually and romantically, provided they can catch my attention!
11/18/2012