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Originally Posted by Paloma
What does "gender non-conforming" have to do with sexual orientation....
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Gender nonconformity is a phenomenon in which pre-pubescent children do not conform to expected gender-related sociological or psychological patterns, and/or identify with the opposite gender.
Typical behavior among those who exhibit the phenomenon includes but is not limited to a propensity to cross-dress, refusal to take part in activities conventionally thought suitable for the gender and the exclusive choice of play-mates of the opposite sex.
Multiple studies have correlated childhood gender non-conformity with eventual gay/bisexual and trans-gender outcomes.
One study found a high incidence of gay males self-reporting gender-atypical behaviors in childhood, such as having little interest in athletics and preferring to play with dolls. The same study found that mothers of gay males recalled such atypical behavior in their sons with greater frequency than mothers of heterosexual males. Nevertheless, not all gay/bisexual men exhibit especially feminine characteristics, and not all feminine men identify as gay/bisexual.