For a long time, labels like “gay,” “straight,” and “bi” were the only tools we had to talk about attraction. But as our understanding of gender and sexuality evolves, so does the language we use to talk about it.
Queer folks are constantly finding new words to articulate their experiences; giving names to different constellations of attraction that have always existed, but maybe haven’t yet been articulated. Enter the community-coined term “uranic,” and other micro-labels like it—which, for some people, offer more specific ways to describe who they’re drawn to, and how.
Put simply, to be uranic is to be attracted to men and masculine non-binary people. But let’s dive a little deeper on the meaning, history, and common misconceptions around the term.
What is uranic attraction?
“Uranic” is a label some people use to describe being primarily attracted to men and anyone masculine-aligned—be they cis men, trans men, or masculine-leaning non-binary and gender-expansive folks. It can also include more androgynous or neutral non-binary people. So it’s essentially attraction to anyone who’s not a woman or feminine-aligned (hence why “uranic” has also sometimes been called “nofemsexual.”)
As a newer and little-known term, uranic’s meaning is often misunderstood. But it was born from online queer communities as a way to categorize their sexuality and attraction outside of more typical, binarized language. For this reason, it’s a term more commonly used by non-binary people. But it can be used by anyone, if it fits their experience.
Explaining why the term resonates with them, one Reddit user says: “I personally use uranic because I'm not attracted to women or woman-aligned enbies (demigirls, paragirls, agender women, genderfluid people who are occasionally women or woman-aligned, etc. etc. etc.).”
“God knows I spent ages searching for a term that fits me,” says another non-binary uranic user, “but I’ve finally done it.”
Where does uranic attraction fit in with other sexual identities?
Terms like straight, gay, and bisexual have long been the default ways we talk about sexuality. But if straight means being attracted to the “opposite” gender, gay means being attracted to the “same” gender, and bisexual means being attracted to two or more genders, you can see how these definitions might not fully feel like a home for those who identify as—or are attracted to—non-binary and gender-expansive folks.
Still, it’s worth noting that some people’s interpretation of, and attachment to, broader terms like “gay” or “bisexual” have expanded to include non-binary people. The catch-all term “queer” can be a neat workaround as well.
But some folks prefer to categorize their attraction with more nuance and specificity. Enter micro-labels: Uranic sexuality sits alongside others like neptunic (attraction to women and feminine people; i.e. the “opposite” of uranic) and saturnic (attraction to androgynous or neutral non-binary people).
People who identify as uranic (or another micro-label) might use it instead of a broader sexual orientation, or they might use it alongside one. It can be flexible.
Micro-labels aren’t for everyone
Language is imperfect, and ever-evolving. And some Reddit users have voiced that, to them, terms like “uranic” offer a reductive view of non-binary identities, and even contradictorily reinforce a gender binary—because it’s like putting masculine non-binary people “in the same box” as men.
So, as always, choose whatever terms resonate with you, and leave the ones that don’t. If micro-labels like uranic help you better articulate your experience, great. If they don’t feel right or necessary, that’s fine, too.
If you want to continue exploring through language, you can learn more about queer terminology with the Feeld glossary.
The history of uranic and uranian love
Tumblr user @loud-and-queer is credited with coining the term “uranic” in 2017. But if you're into queer terminology, you may have noticed how similar it sounds to another word: “uranian.”
“Uranian” is a historical term for love and attraction between men, first coined by nineteenth-century German lawyer and early gay rights advocate Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. It was then adopted by Victorian English advocates of gay emancipation, like Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds. But it can also be traced back to Plato’s Symposium, a philosophical text that explores the nature of love.
In the text, there’s a mythological account of the goddess Aphrodite’s birth. One version relates that she was born from the semen of the sky god Uranus, without any involvement from a woman—a birth in which [a] “female has no part.”
So, you can see how the meanings of “uranic” and “uranian” overlap: both describe love that centers masculinity, rather than femininity, and exists outside of traditional heteronormative ideas of gender and sexuality. However, where “uranian” has typically referred exclusively to attraction between men, uranic sexuality is broader: people of any gender identity can be uranic, and it encompasses attraction to masculine-aligned people in addition to those who identify as men.
Common misconceptions about uranic attraction
“‘Uranic’ is just a niche word for gay”
As we’ve covered, the term “uranic” was coined for a distinct purpose in comparison to other sexual identities: a label for anyone who’s attracted to men, masculine-aligned people, and ultimately anyone who’s not a woman or feminine-aligned.
For some, “gay” feels limited to men who are exclusively attracted to other men, thereby excluding non-binary or gender-expansive folks. Plus, women can be uranic too (though it’s a less commonly used term among women.)
“‘Uranic’ is mutually exclusive with being gay”
“Uranic” may not be synonymous with being gay, but it doesn’t have to be totally different, either. Like we said, for some queer people, their interpretation of the term “gay” has evolved to include masculine non-binary people. So you might still identify as gay, while also relating to the term “uranic.”
“Uranic’s meaning is made up—it’s not a valid identity”
All language is made up. The question is whether it’s useful. For some, “uranic” helps articulate attraction in ways that feel more accurate than binary or umbrella terms. But if “uranic” doesn’t feel like a useful way to categorize your experience, that’s cool, too.
Attraction doesn’t always fit into neat categories. For some people, mainstream labels like “gay,” “bi,” or the all-encompassing “queer” are still home, even if their definitions have expanded over time. For others, they don’t quite fit—which is where micro-labels like “uranic,” “neptunic” or “saturnic” can come in.
Whether you use the word “uranic” to describe your own experience, or just want to better understand someone else’s, the takeaway is the same: sexuality is wide, shifting, and deeply personal. And being open to evolving terminology is just one way we can make space for everyone to feel seen.
If you’re exploring your identity, who you’re drawn to, or want to make new connections, we’re waiting for you on Feeld.
