Heteroflexible is a sexual orientation characterised by primary attraction to people of a different gender, coupled with occasional or situational attraction to people of the same gender. It's often described as "mostly straight".

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

• Primarily Heterosexual: The foundation of heteroflexibility is a strong and consistent attraction to the opposite gender. This forms the majority of their attractions and relationships.
• Flexibility Towards Same-Gender Attraction: Unlike someone who is exclusively heterosexual, a heteroflexible person experiences some level of attraction to their own gender. This attraction might be infrequent, less intense, or occur only under specific circumstances.
• Spectrum of Experience: Heteroflexibility exists on a spectrum. For some, it might involve a rare passing thought or a single experience. For others, it could mean occasional but genuine attraction and even acting on those feelings.
• Not Necessarily Bisexual: While heteroflexibility involves attraction to more than one gender, individuals who identify as heteroflexible often feel that "bisexual" doesn't fully capture their experience. This could be due to the intensity or frequency of their same-gender attraction or a stronger identification with heterosexuality.

Examples of Heteroflexibility:

• A man who is primarily attracted to women but occasionally finds himself attracted to a man he meets.
• A woman in a long-term heterosexual relationship who has a one-time sexual experience with another woman that she enjoys.
• Someone who mostly dates the opposite gender but is open to the possibility of a same-gender romantic or sexual encounter under specific circumstances.
• A person who identifies as straight but has had a few same-gender crushes or sexual fantasies.

Heteroflexible vs. Bisexual:

While both terms describe attraction to more than one gender, the emphasis differs:

• Bisexual: Generally implies a more significant and often more consistent attraction to more than one gender. Bisexuality is a broad term, and the degree of attraction to different genders can vary greatly.
• Heteroflexible: Highlights the primarily heterosexual nature of the attraction, with same-gender attraction being less frequent or less intense. Some people use this term because they feel their attraction to the same gender is not strong or frequent enough to warrant identifying as bisexual. Others might prefer it because they feel a stronger connection to their heterosexual identity.

Important Considerations:

• Self-Identification: Ultimately, the label someone chooses is a personal one. If "heteroflexible" feels like the most accurate descriptor for their experience, that is valid.
• Fluidity: Sexuality can be fluid, and someone's identification might change over time.
• Potential for Bi-Erasure: Some members of the LGBTQ+ community express concern that the term "heteroflexible" can contribute to the erasure of bisexuality by suggesting that some forms of attraction to more than one gender are "less valid" or just a temporary deviation from heterosexuality. However, many individuals find the term accurately reflects their unique experience.