by Justin Lehmiller Asexuality is a term that different people define in somewhat different ways. Most often, however, asexuals tend to be characterized as persons who do not experience sexual attraction. This definition doesn’t entirely capture all of the diversity that exists within the asexual community, though.
Sexual Orientation
Why Do Some Identical Twins Have Different Sexual Orientations?
by Justin Lehmiller A growing amount of research suggests that sexual orientation has a genetic basis. In fact, scientists recently identified two specific genes that appear to differ between gay and straight men [1]. If sexual orientation is indeed genetically determined, it would be tempting to assume that identical twins would always have the same… Read more »
The Kinsey Institute Interview Series: A Conversation with Dr. Paul Vasey
By Justin Lehmiller What is a day in the life of a sex researcher like? In this interview series, I talk to some of the world’s foremost authorities on sex in order to answer this question, but also to provide a glimpse into what they’re currently working on, what the media tends to get wrong… Read more »
Asexuality Isn’t A Mental Disorder Or Sexual Dysfunction – It’s A Sexual Orientation
By Dr. Justin Lehmiller The nature of asexuality is something that scientists have been debating for years. Some have argued that it’s a mental disorder, others have classified it as a sexual dysfunction, some claim that it’s an unusual sexual interest (technically known as a paraphilia), and yet others consider it to be a… Read more »
The Science of “Gaydar”: How Well Can We Detect Other People’s Sexual Orientation?
by Dr. Justin Lehmiller Gaydar has been the subject of a fair amount of scientific controversy as of late. Some researchers have argued that it’s real, while others have claimed that it’s a myth. So which one is it? Is gaydar really a thing and, if so, how accurate is it? People talk about ‘gaydar’… Read more »