Heterosexuality is attraction primarily to the other binary sex or to a different gender than one’s own, in the way the word is commonly used. It is the statistical majority pattern in most surveys and has been treated as the default for so long that people forget it is also an orientation with a history.

Default status brings privilege and it can also bring a thin script: man plus woman plus certain roles. Plenty of heterosexual couples throw that script out and still use the word. Plenty of people who once assumed they were straight later find a more accurate label. Both things happen without needing a trial by public opinion.

Opposite-sex attraction does not inoculate anyone against bad consent practices or against STIs. Those problems do not belong to other communities as a specialty.

If the word fits, it fits. It does not need to be loud to be real.