Who/what was your gay awakening?

WikiPandaDancer490
07/04/24 8:02am
What was the moment things clicked for you and you realized you were 💅? Who was it that made you feel feelings? I'm so curious to hear people's stories!

WikiLlamaGlider700
07/04/24 4:08pm
My friends and I randomly watched Van Wilder back in high school (any national lampoon fans here?), which led to Ryan Reynolds being my first gay crush. I think it took me a while to know that I was gay because I'm attracted to people of all genders, so it was easier for me to "default" to liking girls and fitting in with the heteronormative "boys like girls" thing for most of my childhood.

It took a lot of soul searching and exploration for me to figure out my sexuality. At different points in my life, I've thought I was straight, gay, bi, and pan, and eventually I realized that trying to figure out the exact specific term wasn't working out for me. Queer is an umbrella term that feels most comfortable to me
wikiHow Expert
Jessica Swenson
Community Psychologist & Licensed Clinical Therapist
07/05/24 8:21pm
The thing about sexual orientation and preferences is that they are subjective to the person that's experiencing them. There's not a clinical test for being gay. It's just how you feel, and it can change every day, so go with whatever identity feels right for you. It's generally not a good idea to try to come up with a black and white term for every possible sexual identity a person can have.
WikiZebraCaster991
07/06/24 6:34pm
I was watching Pirates of the Caribbean and could not stop thinking about how hot Jack Sparrow was! Now I have a thing for pirates
WikiCloudWhisperer256
07/07/24 5:56pm
My gay awakening was/is my best friend. We're still bffs and I haven't told her about my feelings. Every day when we hang out at school I feel like I'm hiding something from her by not telling her that I like her but I also don't want to ruin our friendship by telling her and making things weird between us. I really don't know what to do because I don't want to lose her :(
wikiHow Expert
Kateri Berasi, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
07/07/24 7:52pm
As a starting point, it can be helpful to have discussions with her about sexuality and desire in a more general sense. This way, she will become aware that you are interested in same-sex relationships and/or sexual activity, and hopefully, you can get a better sense of her own interest. If after talking to her you still don’t have an idea of what her feelings and opinions are, be honest and open up about how you feel. Trust that the strength of your friendship will help you work through any difficulties that may arise.
Anonymous WikiStoat
Anonymous WikiStoat
10/25/24 8:29pm
I have always been a definite tomboy, and after a while, I realised that I definitely acted like one. I also felt like I was more into girls than boys, and had a crush on a girl in my year. I'm now dating my cis female best friend as a non binary person !
Anonymous WikiDolphin
Anonymous WikiDolphin
11/03/24 11:45pm
First it was a girl and then Billie Eilish

What do other wikiHow readers have to say?

Other wikiHow readers have submitted their own tips on topics similar to this one.

Reader Tips from How to Know if You Are Gay
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
It's 100% okay to switch your orientation. For a decade, I identified as a gay man. Then, I met a woman who just knocked my socks off and I was with her for almost a decade. After that relationship, I found myself drawn to men again and I consider myself gay ever since. It's really not a big deal to me anymore, so don't let it keep you up at night!
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
There's absolutely nothing wrong with not knowing what sexuality applies most accurately to you. Some people spend their entire lives not having a specific term for what drives their sexual desires, and they eventually realize that the label doesn't necessarily matter. So long as you're happy and love yourself for who you are, it's all okay.
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
There's nothing wrong with self-discovery. I am nearly 60, and I had my first same-sex encounter just last week. Still not sure which way I fly, and that's okay!
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
Do your research. There are hundreds of sexualities of there; find which one suits you best.
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
It can take a long time to actually figure out what your sexuality is, so don't force yourself to just pick something that feels "kind of" right when it doesn't actually ring true for you.
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
No matter what you are, don't let anyone tell you you're not. The only person out there who gets to define what you are is you, so do not let anyone undermine that.
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
If you're coming out for the first time, it's probably not the best idea to simply say, "I'm gay" and walk out. If it's safe to do so, sit down with your friends/family and talk to them about your sexuality. Remember, your loved ones need time to digest and accept your sexuality. If they show signs of anger or resistance, quickly end the conversation and simply wait until another time to bring it up.
Anonymous Reader
Anonymous Reader
If it doesn't feel natural to you to call yourself "gay" that's 100% fine. You're allowed to use whatever label or identifier that resonates most with you!