Sexual Practice

Sexual practice refers to the sexual experiences a person has actually had, especially with people of which gender or genders. The term describes lived behavior or concrete experiences, not automatically desire, identity, or self-description. For example, a person may have had sexual experiences with one gender but feel attracted to several genders, or the other way around.

Sexual practice is not the same as sexual orientation. Orientation describes more who a person experiences sexual attraction toward or how they understand their desire; practice describes what has actually happened. The two may match, but they do not have to. Reasons can include opportunity, curiosity, relationship situations, social pressure, safety, coming out, personal development, or conscious choice.

It is important not to use sexual practice as proof for or against a particular orientation. Past experiences also do not determine how a person identifies today or whom they desire. Non-consensual experiences should generally not be interpreted as an expression of sexual practice or orientation; what matters are self-determination, consent, and the person’s own self-description.