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How do I know if I'm gay, lesbian, or bisexual?

303 Answers
Last Updated: 07/14/2021 at 10:14pm
How do I know if I'm gay, lesbian, or bisexual?
★ This question about LGBTQ+ Issues was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
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Top Rated Answers
ashbradbury42
December 18th, 2015 12:57am
If you are a gay man, you like men. If you are a gay woman/lesbian, you like women. If you are bi, you like two genders.
Jonsayshello
December 18th, 2015 3:52am
Remember that you don't need to identify specifically right now, and that you have plenty of time to figure everything out. You can read about the topics, and also speak with friends about it, if you're comfortable. You can also speak with someone who's experienced in LGBTQ+, or talk to someone online about it.
miamaiamaya
December 18th, 2015 11:38am
Why does it matter!? :) There is no need for labels, you should simply fall in love with whomever you fall in love with. However, you could potentially test your sexual or romantic attraction to either gender.
BeWhoYouAre1234
December 18th, 2015 12:36pm
ask yourself one qustion : do i like boys, girls or both? find if you are attracted with the same gender :) it's also alright if you say now that you like girls, than you suddenly find that you like boys too and then you finally find that you are straight/homosexual/bisexual. just ask yourself who you are.
Anonymous
December 19th, 2015 12:00am
If you are attracted to the same gender more than the same gender. (lesbian or gay). If you love the same gender as much as the opposite.
Anonymous
December 19th, 2015 2:23am
There is no easy way of knowing that you are either of them. It all really just comes with experience and just knowing how you feel with different genders.
Anonymous
December 19th, 2015 9:33am
For me, it has been a difficult to label myself as a single sexuality and I'm still questioning. I think it boils down to how you feel about an intimate relationship with a gender. Does it comfort or puts you off? You'll have to explore, that's the best way to know.
SockMonkey25
December 19th, 2015 6:16pm
Curiosity is completely normal, as is an attraction to, even getting a big crush on someone of your own gender, especially during puberty. There is no one test you can take to tell you who you are. Go with your instincts, and remember that whatever you discover about yourself, you are perfect.
Anonymous
December 20th, 2015 7:43pm
You will know this when you imagine yourself with the other gender, with being bisexual you have an attraction towards both genders
enchantingForever73
December 23rd, 2015 4:49pm
It is sometimes very tough to know about your orientation.... but the most basic idea is... AM i attracted to the opposite sex ?(physically) Am i attracted to both the sexes ?(physically) if the answer to the first question is no... and the second question is yes...or bot the the individual is lesbian,gay or bisexual.
Miranda1999
December 24th, 2015 12:07am
You know if your gay,lesbian, or bisexual if you have feelings towards someone which would give the label of you being gay/lesbian/bisexual or if you have an attraction towards someone who would give you the label of being gay/lesbian/bisexual
Anonymous
January 16th, 2018 6:42pm
Well it depends on who you're attracted to, but if you're struggling with identifying your sexual orientation, you can just wait, until things clear up and you're sure, it's perfectly fine to be confused about your sexuality. Eventually you'll experience attraction, and that'll answer your question.
Anonymous
March 29th, 2016 5:26pm
you can simply answer it by your own self.. Knowing what your emotional feelings want
richPresence27234
August 22nd, 2016 4:22am
You just know it can be a sinking feeling in the back of your gut or something you learn about later just love yourself and everything will be alright
BlueBurns
August 16th, 2016 10:41am
Discovering one's sexuality and learning more about is a process that cannot be pinpointed by one single act. Nobody has ever taken a test and understood that they're gay, lesbian or bisexual. However, there are a few things that can be generally looked for in one's self to get an idea about ones sexuality, depending on whether it is gay, lesbian or bisexual etc. I would always suggest not going by stereotypes because they can be very misleading. From personal experience, I got a hint about my sexuality when I got to know that two woman could lead a romantically, emotional and sexually fulfilling life together. It completed the fact that I hadn't ever been sexually attracted to the male body. I usually felt out of place among my girl friends when they talked about the guys they liked because it never interested me. I remember having crushes on movie characters and almost all of them, in hindsight, were women. And of course, there's the general 'do you want to be them or be with them' question which will give you an idea about how you're feeling. This is only a subjective experience and it varies from person to person. Some people just have known forever. Some people get to know after entering into a heterosexual marriage. It's all relative. But what is most important is to not be stressed out, take time and not feel pressured. Take it slow and figure it out rather than making a rash and incorrect conclusion. But also keep in mind that you are a unique individual and so are your experiences. And there needn't be a box or label that you need to fit in. You can just not conform to norms and embrace your weirdness and difference, and it would all be just fine. No one is more beautiful than a person who is fully proud of who they are. Cheers!
JaketheTransguyFTM
June 10th, 2016 5:09pm
You really just need to experiment. It will eventually just come to you. Go on a journey to try to figure out who you are.
Anonymous
June 10th, 2016 2:58am
Honestly it's just who you find you're attracted to. There's nothing more to it that realizing you are straight
XxXShoulderXxX
June 9th, 2016 3:42pm
You may be quite eager to settle the question, “What’s my sexual orientation?” or you may discover that you need more evidence. Alternatively, you may be hesitant to settle the question if the thought of being anything other than heterosexual evokes anxiety. I honor whatever feelings you bring to the process of clarifying your sexual orientation.
Vaux
June 9th, 2016 12:39pm
If you have an attraction to your same sex, either physically or emotionally, you might be gay or lesbian or even bisexual. It depends on who you are attracted to.
MatthewTheMagical
June 8th, 2016 10:53am
Honestly, I just put labels aside and I date whoever I want too. If you see a boy and you have a crush on them, date them! If you have a crush on a female date them! Date anyone you want to! Put labels aside!
Anonymous
June 4th, 2016 2:27pm
Sometimes it takes time to fully understand one's sexuality. You can determine your sexuality by trying to understand what kind of attraction you have (friendly or sexual) to a specific gender.
rhiann0n
June 4th, 2016 8:35am
There's no way to just 'know', its more of a process, and something that only you can decide and figure out for yourself.
ContemplativeRaindrop
January 21st, 2016 3:32pm
Can you picture yourself being comfortable in a romantic and intimate relationship with a member of the same sex? Does it feel ''right'' to you? If your answer is yes, you might be part of the LGBT+ community! Of course, you can't know for sure, especially if you're just discovering who you're attracted to but it's a start. Wish you the best of luck in your self-discovery!
ArielNeves
May 2nd, 2016 4:49pm
You're gay if you like the same gender as yourself; a lesbian if you are a girl who likes girls; and bisexual if you like two or more genders.
penguinprotector6958
February 6th, 2016 6:05am
To know what sexuality you are just think about if you like the same sex of you or just experiment with the same gender ect.
rykairo
January 29th, 2016 2:05am
Well, just think about who you're attracted to. Do you picture yourself with the same or opposite sex? Do you picture yourself with both? Really take time to reflect and if you feel that you can identify with a label, that's great! If you don't that's perfectly fine too.
blanket7
January 31st, 2016 1:00am
If you are gay you are a male who is attracted to males. If you are a lesbian you are a female who is attracted to females. If you are bisexual you are someone attracted to males and females. Simple :)
ella3421
January 28th, 2016 4:31pm
You'll know when you know, and you shouldn't rush it. Within time you'll know how you feel, but for now just do what feels right to you. If you're getting feelings for girls, that's okay, if you have feelings for guys, that's okay, if you aren't getting feelings at all, that's perfectly fine. There is always someone out there who feels the same as you and/or is willing to help you through your confusion.
Anonymous
February 10th, 2016 12:26am
Reading up on the definitions for sexuailtes is a good step for identification. As well, thinking about your previous experiences with romantic and sexual attraction also is helpful.
Anonymous
February 16th, 2016 4:13pm
Go with what you think. If you are attracted sexually to the same gender then you are either gay or lesbian depending on your gender and if you are sexually attracted to both then you are bisexual.