Sexual and gender identity

We used to have a very limited understanding of sexual and gender identity, thinking that everything was both binary and set at birth. But current biological and social sciences support a complex and fluid interaction of biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. So what do all of these words mean?

• Biological sex: the combination of genetics and anatomy a person is born with. The "plumbing," so to speak
• Gender identity: the gender a person's head tells them that they are. This could be congruent with biological sex (cis-gender), incongruent (trans-gender), or non-binary
• Gender expression: the way a person dresses, acts, and generally exhibits their gender identity.  A woman can be a tom boy, or a man might swish. 
• Sexual orientation: the gender a person is attracted to, which could be men, women, both, or neither

All of the four categories above are on a continuum and operate independently of one another as they intersect to make each person unique in their sexual and gender identity.

Many men question their sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. Some men struggle with being in mixed-orientation marriages. I work with men to live into their full authentic selves while striving to maintain connection with those they care about.