Lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual – these are all terms to help us navigate relationships and sexuality. Now, a label for those are attracted to intelligence is gaining prominence and sparking debates: sapiosexual.

Those who identify as sapiosexual see a person’s intelligence as their most important trait.

The term first rose to prominence in 2014, when the dating site OKCupid expanded the list of sexual orientations its users could identify with. Additions at that time included asexual, demisexual, heteroflexible, homoflexible, pansexual, queer, questioning and sapiosexual. But use of the term goes as far back as 2002, in a Livejournal blog post by a user named Wolfieboy.

In mid-October, the Sapio: Intelligent Dating app was launched, to cater for this crowd.

“Sick of superficial hookup apps?” its developers Humanist Dating LLC asked potential users on the AppStore. “Sapio is an evolution in dating apps, where physical and intellectual attraction are put on an equal level.”

“True matches are also an attraction to how someone thinks, how they behave, and who they are at deeper levels.”

With a similar set up to Tinder, users answer questions – like ‘what is your biggest achievement’ or ‘what would you tell your 15-year-old self’? – in order to match and chat.

LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russia’s antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT “propaganda” allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this ‘crime’ since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty

Since 2014, some 9,000 OKCupid users identify as saopisexual, according to Broadly, while a dedicated Facebook page headed by a picture of Albert Einstein has over 12,500 likes.

But others aren’t so convinced and argue that being attracted to intelligence doesn’t qualifiy as a sexual orientation and argue that it simply is a way to exclude a person based on their class and abilities.

“Sapiosexual: I'm an entitled, classist, elitist rebranded as a lover of intellect!” wrote one Facebook user beneath a Buzzfeed ‘are you a sapiosexual?’ personality quiz.