Not so long ago, gender was believed to be a simple matter, set at birth, and sexuality not much more complex than that.
But for the younger generation at least, both gender and sexuality are far more nuanced and complex than traditional labels would suggest.
Recent YouGov polls found that young people are more likely to plot their sexual orientation along a sliding scale, as opposed to saying they are either heterosexual or gay.
There are now at least 64 terms to describe gender identity and at least 46 to describe sexual orientation — an increase that has been reflected among young celebrities. A growing number now embrace a ‘non-binary’ or ‘genderfluid’ identity. And, of course, at the forefront of this shift are a glittering array of A-listers.
This week, model Lily Cole — who is in a long-term relationship with a man — announced she is ‘queer’, someone who isn’t exclusively heterosexual.
Meanwhile, musician Grimes, born Claire Boucher, prefers to ‘vibe in a gender neutral space’ and has said that she will be raising the baby she has with billionaire Elon Musk — named X Æ A-12 — in a ‘gender neutral’ parenting style as well.
Actor Emma Corrin, who played Princess Diana in The Crown, says she is working towards a gender identity, while reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian recently said she was ‘autosexual’, which means you are sexually attracted to yourself.
So, what does it all mean? Here, we explain what you need to know about the new world of gender identity and sexual orientation.
LILY COLE
Queer
Model and actress Lily Cole shared that she was queer, or not exclusively heterosexual, this week, saying: ‘I need to acknowledge I am not straight.’
Lily, 33, is in a relationship with businessman Kwame Ferreira, with whom she has a daughter, Wylde, five.
Model and actress Lily Cole shared that she was queer, or not exclusively heterosexual, this week, saying: ‘I need to acknowledge I am not straight.’
She said: ‘None of us choose the cultural norms and laws we inherit. Had my mixed-race daughter been born in a different country, she would have been a crime. If I were living in another country today, my queerness would be a crime.’
vShe finds boundaries relating to sex and sexuality rigid. ‘I have lots of friends who identify as bisexual, lesbian or whatever, who also identify as queer.’
MILEY CYRUS
Genderfluid and pansexual
Singer Miley Cyrus, 28, identifies as genderfluid — having a gender that moves over time — and pansexual, meaning she is attracted to people of all gender identities, be they male, female, trans or non-binary.
She said in an interview that her first romance was ‘with a chick’ and that she started to grasp her sexual and gender orientation around the age of ten.
‘My eyes started opening in the fifth or sixth grade,’ she said. ‘I grew up in a very religious Southern family. The universe has always given me the power to know I’ll be OK.
Singer Miley Cyrus, 28, identifies as genderfluid — having a gender that moves over time — and pansexual, meaning she is attracted to people of all gender identities, be they male, female, trans or non-binary
‘Even at that time, when my parents didn’t understand, I just felt that one day they are going to understand.’
Married to actor Liam Hemsworth between 2018 and 2020, she added: ‘People may not see me as neutral as I feel, but I feel very neutral.’
EMMA CORRIN
Uses pronouns ‘she/they’
Emma Corrin, 25, star of The Crown, said earlier this summer that she is ‘figuring out’ her gender and displays her pronouns as ‘she/they’, which is being widely interpreted as a step towards Emma assuming a non-binary gender identity.
She posted a picture of her binding her chest and said: ‘It’s all a journey right. Lots of twists and turns and change and that’s OK! Embrace it.’
Emma Corrin, 25, star of The Crown, said earlier this summer that she is ‘figuring out’ her gender and displays her pronouns as ‘she/they’
She added: ‘My journey has been a long one and has still got a long way to go. We are so used to defining ourselves, and that’s the way, sadly, society works, within these binaries.
‘It’s taken me a long time to realise that I exist somewhere in between and I’m still not sure where that is.’
KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN
Autosexual
Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian, 42, said in December that she is ‘autosexual’, meaning that she is sexually attracted to herself.
Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian, 42, said in December that she is ‘autosexual’, meaning that she is sexually attracted to herself
She shared an article on her lifestyle website, Poosh, which asked: ‘Are you autosexual? The short answer is yes, most likely.
‘In fact, we all are, at least a little.’
She is currently dating rocker Travis Barker.
GRIMES
Gender neutral
Canadian musician Grimes, the girlfriend of Tesla boss Elon Musk, identifies as ‘gender neutral’.
She adds that she is ‘impartial to pronouns for myself ’ but wishes that ‘I didn’t have to be categorised as female constantly’.
Canadian musician Grimes, the girlfriend of Tesla boss Elon Musk, identifies as ‘gender neutral’
She and Musk had a baby last year and have declined to specify its gender, saying: ‘I don’t want to gender them in case that’s not how they feel in their life. I don’t know; I just feel like it doesn’t need to be known.’
Singer Harry Styles often wears feminine clothing on stage and donned a dress on the cover of Vogue last year
HARRY STYLES
‘Who cares?’
Singer Harry Styles is dating actress Olivia Wilde. He often wears feminine clothing on stage and donned a dress on the cover of Vogue last year.
The 27-year-old has said: ‘Even if the masculine and feminine exist, their limits are the subject of a game. We no longer need to be this or that.’
Asked if he is bisexual, he replied: ‘It’s not like I’m sitting on an answer and protecting it and holding it back.
‘It’s not a case of: I’m not telling you because I don’t want to tell you. It’s: Who cares?’
CARA DELEVINGNE
Genderfluid and pansexual
Model Cara Delevingne, 29, is pansexual and genderfluid. She had a relationship with female American musician St Vincent from 2015 to 2016, and then dated Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson, from whom she split in 2020.
In 2018, she said she was genderfluid but wished to use she/her pronouns.
Model Cara Delevingne, 29, is pansexual and genderfluid. She had a relationship with female American musician St Vincent from 2015 to 2016
‘When I first realised that gender is so much more fluid than “masculine” or “feminine” it was a breakthrough moment for me,’ she said.
‘The thing is with me, I change a lot. I feel different all the time. Some days, I feel more womanly. Some days, I feel more like a man.’ She added: ‘I always will remain, I think, pansexual.
‘However someone defines themselves, whether it’s “they” or “he” or “she”, I fall in love with the person — and that’s that. I’m attracted to the person.’
SAM SMITH
Singer Sam Smith, 29, says they are ‘genderqueer’ — someone with a gender identity that is neither male nor female
Non-binary and genderqueer
Singer Sam Smith, 29, says they are ‘genderqueer’ — someone with a gender identity that is neither male nor female — and adds: ‘I feel just as much a woman as I am a man.’
In 2019 they said: ‘I’ve always had a little bit of a war going within my body and my mind. I do think like a woman sometimes, in my head.
Sometimes I’ve questioned: “Do I want a sex change?” I’m not male or female, I think I flow somewhere in between. It’s all on the spectrum.’
There was a period in their teens when they went to school in full make-up and didn’t own any masculine clothing, and they came out as gay in 2014.
OLLY ALEXANDER
Gay, queer and non-binary
Actor and singer Olly Alexander, 31, was the breakout star of the Channel 4 TV drama It’s A Sin about the impact of Aids in the 1980s.
He said: ‘I feel very non-binary, and you know, I identify as gay and queer and non-binary.’
Actor and singer Olly Alexander, 31, was the breakout star of the Channel 4 TV drama It’s A Sin about the impact of Aids in the 1980s
ELLIOT PAGE
Transgender
The star of 2007 film Juno, about a teenage girl who falls pregnant, Elliot Page said last year that he is transgender.
The 34-year- old said: ‘Extremely influential people are spreading these myths and damaging rhetoric — every day you’re seeing our existence debated. Transgender people are so very real.’
The star of 2007 film Juno, about a teenage girl who falls pregnant, Elliot Page said last year that he is transgender
The 34-year- old said: ‘Extremely influential people are spreading these myths and damaging rhetoric — every day you’re seeing our existence debated
An actor since he was ten, he came out as gay in 2014, and married choreographer Emma Portner in 2018.
They split earlier this year but have remained friends.
DEMI LOVATO
Non-binary and pansexual
Actor and singer Demi Lovato, 28, became famous after starring in the Disney film Camp Rock, and later joined The X Factor USA judging panel.
Actor and singer Demi Lovato, 28, became famous after starring in the Disney film Camp Rock, and later joined The X Factor USA judging panel
Famous for romances with singer Joe Jonas and actor Wilmer Valderrama, earlier this year Demi — who uses the pronouns they/them — said they were pansexual and sexually fluid.
‘I’ve always known I was hella [very] queer, but I have finally embraced it,’ they said.
In May, Demi announced they are non-binary — so they do not fit into the male/female gender binary.