Homophilia
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Homophilia is attraction and love between people of the same gender. Unlike the related term homosexuality, the term homophilia does not assume sex as a part of the relationship. Because most people so closely link love and sex, the term homophilia is rarely used, while the term homosexuality is in general use. Some examples of when homophilia may be a useful term include:
- the intense friendships formed between boys and between girls before puberty.
- the lovingly devoted relationships formed between members of gender-segregated sport teams, social clubs, and military batallions in which homosexuality would be considered taboo
- the passionate spiritual bonds formed amongst monks and nuns, or other gender-segregated people of religion. These people may even be openly gay while maintaining chastity.
- the love of heterosexual people for friends of the same gender, this love sometimes meaning more to them than the sexual and romantic love they engage in through dating and marriage.
- the loving, non-sexual bonds which can form between same-gender gay friends. Each friend may consider the other their closest spiritual and emotional relationship, but engage in sexual relationships only with others
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