Sexual Orientation Within America s Most Controversial...

Sexual orientation can be considered as one of America’s most controversial topics. Although the rationale and choice differs from person to person, and is considered to be a private matter of personal preference, many people have experienced negative backlash and harsh criticism due to their individual likings. In general, sexual orientation is defined as: a person s sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. While the definition seems to be straightforward and concise, the subject of sexual orientation encompasses much more than just the intensity of emotional and erotic attraction and response to members of the opposite sex, the same sex, or both†¦show more content†¦A person s sexual orientation is distinct from a person s gender identity and expression, but without gender identity and expression, sexual orientation would be hard to distinguish. The term gender identity, distinct from the term sexual orientation, refers to a person s innate, deeply felt psychological identification as a man, woman or some other gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g., the sex listed on their birth certificate). For example take a child who may be born a hermaphrodite or what is commonly known as an intersex. When birthed this child would have either male and female sex organs or sexual characteristics. Unlike those who are heterosexual, homosexual, or even bisexual, an intersexual in my opinion would have the most difficult time finding their sexual orientation, due to the fact at times they are given a gender identity based on their genital formation. When in the womb intersex infants can be spotted. The choice is up to the parent’s then if they would like to assign gender to the infant. Some of the following diagnoses at times seem to be the logical reasons behind assigning gender to the infant. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplas ia (CAH) is an inherited condition that technically can be found at birth and it does not allow the body to make enough cortisol. When the cells in the body try to make cortisol they began to become enlarged. If not