Many couples explore all sorts of bedroom moves, and tongue play around the anus, called anilingus, sometimes sits high on the curiosity list. A question that pops up on forums asks whether a straight man who loves giving or receiving this act must be gay. The short answer is no. Sexual orientation speaks to who sparks romantic or physical desire, not the type of contact someone enjoys. Plenty of straight, bi, and gay folks share many of the same body-based pleasures. Feeling good from the stimulation of sensitive nerves does not rewrite the map of attraction.
Orientation centers on the target of desire. A straight man dreams about women, dates women, and imagines a life partner who is female. That identity remains even if he likes...