Up until now, all of our characters in The Sims series have been playersexual. Sure, it was one of the first games that let you live out your gay dreams, but sexuality was never a big deal. Sims weren't gay, straight, bi or anything like that - they'd get with whoever you wanted them to. However, thanks to an upcoming update, Sims can now be given set identities. Better yet, EA has confirmed that no, you cannot switch off the gays. Unlike other features, players will not be able to toggle the sexuality options on and off. EA says this is a conscious decision, explaining in a blog post that, unlike other add-ons, "LGBTQIA+ identities are a fact of life and not a toggle to be switched on and off". This explanation comes from the blog post that goes over the features of the upcoming update. Here, The Sims 4's design lead explains how the update will differ from other expansions that have been added over the years. "While we try to give players the option to toggle certain gameplay features, LGBTQIA+ identities are a fact of life and not a toggle to be switched on and off", reads the Q&A that goes over the new update, making it clear that you can't avoid the gays while you play.
The post is an interesting read throughout, going over all the nuances and limitations of the new sexual orientation options. It seems that the devs have tried to account for most players here, as they have separated romantic and sexual attraction. This means that your Sim can be aromantic, but still interested in WooHooing with Sims of any gender. On the flip side, you can be asexual, but still up for forming romantic relationships. There's even an option to say whether or not your Sim is interested in experimenting, making it possible that their sexuality will change in-game.
The update is set to be with us July 26, with the new High School Years expansion coming July 28.