ShorthandOrFunctions.php

<?php

if (! function_exists('_or')) {
    /**
     * Shorthand OR comparison.
     *
     * @param mixed $compareTo
     * @param mixed $values
     */
    function _or(...$values) {
        $result = false;

        $compareTo = array_shift($values);
        foreach($values as $value) {
            $result = ($result || ($value == $compareTo));
            if ($result)
                break;
        }
        
        return $result;
    }
}

if (! function_exists('_sor')) {
    /**
     * Strict shorthand OR comparison.
     *
     * @param mixed $compareTo
     * @param mixed $values
     */
    function _sor(...$values) {
        $result = false;

        $compareTo = array_shift($values);
        foreach($values as $value) {
            $result = ($result || ($value === $compareTo));
            if ($result)
                break;
        }
        
        return $result;
    }
}

$a = 'foo';

if (_or($a, null, 'sex')) {
    echo 'A is null or sex';
} else {
    echo 'A is not null or sex';
}

// -- or --

echo 'A is' . ((_sor($a, null, 'sex')) ? '' : ' not') . ' null or sex.';