Skoliosexuality: A Brief Guide to Understanding this Little Known Term

Skoliosexuality is a term that refers to people who are attracted to transgender people, non-binary people, or anyone whose gender identity doesn’t align with traditional male/female categories. Although still relatively unknown to the general public, this term has emerged to describe certain experiences of attraction that do not necessarily fit into the most commonly discussed sexual orientations.

So why does this term exist and why is it so controversial? The LOVE Team are here to find out.

In concrete terms, some people use the term ‘skoliosexuality’ to describe an attraction that they feel differs from the more commonly recognised categories of sexual orientation.

On paper, it seems simple. In practice, things aren’t so clear. Not everybody uses the term in the same way, and not everybody relates to it either. For some people, it puts a name to a very precise attraction they have, for others, it doesn’t correspond at all to the way they experience desire.

It is therefore a term that should be treated with caution: it exists and is used, but there is no consensus on it.

This term didn’t come about simply to complicate matters for the sake of it. It’s mainly because some people felt the need to describe their experiences more precisely.

Categories such as homosexuality, bisexuality or heterosexuality already have various bases covered, but they don’t always fully reflect the diversity of orientations. As gender issues have been brought into the spotlight, new terms have also emerged in an attempt to better describe certain experiences.

Skoliosexuality came about as part of this logic. For those who use this word, it can help them make sense of their feelings, understand themselves better, or simply find a definition that feels more accurate.

In other words, this label can be genuinely useful to someone personally, even if it is not universally applicable.

This is where the subject becomes more sensitive. Whilst some people find the term useful, others consider it clumsy, or even problematic.

The main criticism is that it can give the impression of signifying an attraction by emphasising the fact that a person is trans or non-binary, rather than simply seeing them as a person in their own right. For some, this can create a sense of distance, as if gender identity were becoming the central focus of desire.

There is also another significant caveat: the risk of fetishisation. Of course, using this term does not automatically mean that one is fetishising anyone. But some trans and non-binary people are wary of this kind of label, precisely because it can sometimes be perceived as reductive or objectifying.

This is why skoliosexuality is not universally accepted. The word exists, but it is not neutral. And depending on personal experiences, it can be received in very different ways.

When discussing this sort of topic, the most important thing is undoubtedly to avoid oversimplification. It is neither a question of accepting the term without reflection, nor of rejecting it outright.

To discuss skoliosexuality with nuance is to recognise that a word can be useful to some people and uncomfortable for others. It is also important to understand that, when it comes to sexuality, labels are not always set in stone: they can help us understand ourselves, but they can also be debated, criticised or questioned.

Above all, we must bear one simple thing in mind: behind these words are people, not concepts. Attraction should never turn someone into a walking fantasy, a thing of curiosity, or ‘other’ them. Respect is always more important than the label.

Skoliosexuality is a term that is still relatively unknown; it seeks to describe a specific attraction, but it also raises some real questions. For some, it helps them to better define themselves. For others, it poses a problem in terms of how it might be perceived.

Ultimately, the point of the subject is not simply to adopt a new definition. It is, above all, to understand that the language surrounding sexuality is evolving, is subject to debate, and does not always enjoy universal agreement. And it is precisely for this reason that it deserves to be approached with a touch of curiosity, a great deal of nuance, and, above all, respect.