Sexual desire and fantasies in the LGBT+ community: focus on lesbian women and gay men

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge around sexual desire, fantasies, and related
biopsychosocial factors that may facilitate or obstruct sexual expressions in lesbian women and gay men.
Recent Findings Sexual desire levels and related problems do not seem significantly different in people who identify as gay or
lesbian compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Evidence has shown lesbian women and gay men may have specific desire
expressions and biopsychosocial factors influencing their sexual health. This may suggest the importance of deepening the
understanding of the unique factors of LGBT+ sexuality and relationships while paying attention to the sociocultural background
in which lesbian and gay people grow and develop their identities.
Summary A lack of specific and unbiased literature on sexual desire and fantasies in gay and lesbian people is reported. Available
evidence is controversial and often biased. LG people showed a variety of sexual expressions that are hard to categorize referring
to the heteronormative sexual standards that permeate literature and clinical practice. Implications for future research and clinical
practice are discussed.