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Sexuality

Am I Gay?

‘I think I’m gay’ the realisation that you fancy your own sex can be a mixture of emotions.
If you’ve been brought up to think that love and sex can only happen between a man and a woman, it can seem frustrating and confusing.

If you’re having doubts about your sexuality, rule number one is: don’t panic. Rule number two is; don’t rush into anything. Rule number three; there is available support for you

‘it’s just a phase’

Being a young person is a time of intense sexual self-discovery and experimentation. Masturbation, getting off with someone, having sex - all this is new. However stuff you do now may not necessarily be the stuff you want to do later in your life.

Trust your feelings
You know yourself better than anyone. If you’ve ‘felt different’ or known that you’re gay from a very young age then it may be right to trust this feeling. If, on the other hand you feel, undecided, let time resolve things for you. what’s the rush? You may end up gay, straight or bisexual. Who knows? Don’t let anyone tell you what you are. You decide when you feel you know.

There’s nothing wrong with you or the way you are feeling. You are you. no excuses necessary. Being bisexual or gay is completely acceptable and normal. Millions of gay men and women live happy lives, proud of and open about their sexuality. If that’s what you decide, that’s how you’ll be.

Should I tell my parents?

This is a personal choice. A lot of young people get stuck on when and how to tell their parents- or if they should even tell their parents at all. There are no easy answers. Some parents won’t even blink. Others may get angry and argumentative. A lot will have guessed already, it’s hard to tell.

Ask yourself the following questions and See if they can help you decide what to do:

• What worries you about telling your parents? This may sound stupid but it’s worth thinking about
• How have they reacted to sensitive issues in the past?
• Will they be Disappointed that you couldn’t be open and honest earlier?
• Would it be easier to tell one parent rather than both?
• If you do decide to tell your parents, would you like to have another person you trust there too?  

Get help if you need to

It’s advisable that you talk to people about your feelings. If you don’t want to talk to your parents, support services such as national lesbian and gay switch board (0207 837 7324) can be helpful and can be contacted between 10am and 11pm any day of the week, 365 days a year to talk to a fully trained volunteer who will be helpful, friendly and supportive.

For further information and support you can visit the Terrance Higgins Trust website or contact them on 08451 221200 between Monday- Friday 10.00 am and 10 pm. Saturday-Sunday 12 pm and 6 pm.