How old were you when you realized you are gay?

I've known since I was about 7 that I naturally liked other girls. Though up to that point I was indoctrinated into thinking that I was just a feminine straight guy. I knew something wasn't adding up to what I was being told by everyone; but it wasn't until the horrors of male sex education and the wrong puberty kicking in that I had the red flags. Coming to terms with being a lesbian in the wrong body is very confusing to say the least.

 

I always felt this way, but stopped trying to change and accepted myself at 19.

 

I just avoided it till the friday before Christmas last year actually, so 17.

 

Realized I had feelings for women when I was 23. Never acted on it until I was maybe 28 or 29.

 

Uhm.. recently.

Cuz I kinda figured out I wasn't philophobic after all lol ^~^;;

 

I started phantasizing about me right when I entered puberty, when I was around twelve.

But I only came to the full on realization of my gayness when I was 15/16, while living living in Chicago.

 

Felt the attraction at 13. Thought about doing it at 16. Did it at 25. Still haven't accepted it yet.

 

when I had my first crushes on two guys lol
so age 8/3rd grade

 

I was 14 when I fully realized & accepted it. I had no problem accepting it though, because I'm happy being a lesbian.

 

I always kinda knew but I thought that was 'cause I didn't hit puberty yet. Then at 11 at around the end of school so many guys were talking about girls, and i just zoned out of the conversations then I realised that I was gay.

 

Unless any of those friends are gay (or heavily versed in the area of non-heterosexuality for some reason), I call BS.

Most theories I've heard of (and I'm talking at least somewhat scientifically proven theories) as to why homosexuality exists and when it occurs agree on the idea that it's determined prenatally (i.e. when you're still in the womb).

The one theory that doesn't follow that (but mimics your idea that same-sex interest is natural) states that that occurs before puberty, and then attractions become solidified at puberty.

Coming out earlier or later doesn't affect what you're attracted to. It may affect your levels of confidence and consequently where in the stages of grief you lie (i.e. denial, bargaining), but not your actual orientation.

However, if you have some evidence that'll state otherwise, I'd actually be really interested in seeing it.

 

Hi Folks,

I am a 53 year old guy married for 25 years, no kids, and following a midlife crisis in my mid 40s started to think that I may be gay.

I have always felt different to other guys like not being interested in contact sports etc. but I put that down at the time to being interested in other outdoors activities like mountaineering. When at university I did come into contact with openly gay guys but never felt drawn to, or repulsed by, them they were just other regular guys as far as I was concerned. That should have been a big hint to myself but I missed it!

Looking back on my life there were clues it’s just that I did not recognise them at the time, and only now with the benefit of hindsight do I recognise that internalised homophobia prevented me from seeing the truth at the time. Several of my best mates later turned out to be gay

I have now accepted and feel relatively comfortable with the fact that I am gay, and feel no discomfort typing those words in this forum. I am also aware that the clock is ticking and that although I have achieved many interesting things in my lifetime I have probably never truly lived and loved as I was designed to.

I know from the internet that coming out is a journey that starts with the realisation that you are different and then accepting yourself as gay. The next step is to come-out to someone who you trust and it is much easier if that person is also gay. I think that I am some way between these stages


SaleGayGuy

 

I realized when I was 12

 

I was 13 when I realised, but I didn't accept it till a few months ago

 

I guess I've always known I liked other girls, but just so there's a definite number, when I was 20 I tried kissing a guy at a party. No no no.