Texas Tech University

Avenues of Attraction

What Is Attraction?

According to the dictionary, attraction means "a quality or feature that evokes interest, liking, or desire." 

In the LGBTQIA community, sexual and romantic orientations take many forms. Some identities may be harder to understand because of the multiple avenues that attraction can occupy. 

For example, someone may identify as biromantic and asexual, meaning they experience romantic attraction, but not sexual attraction.

Platonic & Romantic Attraction

Two pictures with "Platonic Attraction" and "Romantic Attraction" across them, with corresponding text that reads "A desire to be friends with someone else" and "A desire to have emotional intimacy of a romantic nature with someone else"

Sexual & Aesthetic Attraction

Two pictures with "Sexual Attraction" and "Aesthetic Attraction" across them, and corresponding text that reads "A desire to have sexual intimacy with someone else" and "An admiration of a person's presentation or aesthetic"

Office of LGBTQIA Education & Engagement

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