How to know if im gay
Many people are brought up to believe that everyone is sexually attracted to people of a different gender than their own. Lots of people are attracted to the same gender or more than one gender, and this is absolutely fine. Gay is the word used to describe someone who is only attracted to the same gender.
It can be used to describe someone of any gender, but sometimes gay women might prefer to be referred to as lesbians. People who are attracted to more than one gender often identify as bisexual or pansexual. The most important thing is to be comfortable and happy with yourself, and respectful of others, no matter what way you identify.
Being gay or lesbian does not mean you have to behave or live your life any differently. Gay, lesbian and bi people come in all shapes and sizes and live all sorts of different lives. Firstly, congratulations! It can take time and work to accept your sexual identity, and you should feel really proud for making this step.
Getting involved with an organisation like BeLonG To can be a how to know if im gay of finding support and friendship during a new stage in your life. Identifying your sexuality and becoming comfortable with it is a process that can take time, and there is nothing you have to do within a certain time frame.
You might feel like you are ready to tell certain people in your life, and that is great, but you do not have to tell anyone unless you feel comfortable doing so. The opinion of our friends and family can mean a lot to us, and it can be nerve-wracking to both keep something from them or decide to tell them.
Gay, lesbian and bi relationships are as diverse and different as straight relationships. Any good relationship is based on love, care, respect, and communication, including gay and lesbian relationships. Just like couples of all sexual identities and genders, gay and lesbian people can have sex in loads of different ways and everyone has different tastes.
Just because you identify with one type of sexuality does not mean you have to have a certain type of sex. Whatever type of sex you chose to have should be the type that brings you and your partners pleasure. Pleasure should be central to all sexual experiences and it can take time to discover what it is you enjoy.
You can read up about contraceptionSTIsconsent and respect. Attitudes in society are changing, and there is much more support and acceptance for gay or lesbian people now than there ever has been before. When someone treats a person worse simply because they are gay, lesbian or bi, this is called homophobia.
Find out more about homophobia here. If you are dealing with homophobia, this can be damaging to your mental health.
How do I know if I’m gay?
You can find more information on this here. As we said, being bi, lesbian or gay can be amazing, but there are challenges too. If you ever need any extra support, information or advice, there are always places you can turn to. A good first port of call is BeLonG To.
If you need any extra support, you can contact them on 01 or visit their website at belongto. We are here to answer your questions and talk through your options. Our online chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm. Chat to us now about your situation.