Main Content
Sexuality
Being gay or lesbian is unlikely to be a sudden feeling. It is something that is more likely to develop over time as you grow up. So working out and understanding whether you are really gay or lesbian can take a long time, and will most likely involve many different feelings.
Nobody knows what makes someone gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight. Sometimes it just 'is'. Being gay, lesbian or bisexual is ok – you haven't done anything wrong.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Some people feel threatened by things they don't understand. Because of this, you may be tempted to keep quiet or pretend that you're straight. The trouble is, you can't hide your feelings forever. What's more, you shouldn't have to - you have a right to be proud of who you are.
The main thing is not to panic and cut yourself off from others. You are still the same person whether you are gay or lesbian; you can still love your friends and parents, and are still the same son or daughter or friend to them. You can still do well in your education or training, get a top job, wear normal clothes and be yourself!
You may think and worry that you have to talk to your parents, friends and family straight away about ‘coming out’ – take your time, let your feelings develop naturally and don’t do anything in a rush.
It can feel isolating to discover that your sexuality is different to other people around you, especially if you don't know anyone else who's gay or lesbian. There are agencies locally and nationally who can support you with all the issues around sexuality and the relationships it can involve. Why not pop into your local Connexions centre and ask to speak to a Personal Adviser? They can also put you in touch with local agencies who can provide the help you need.
Nobody knows what makes someone gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight. Sometimes it just 'is'. Being gay, lesbian or bisexual is ok – you haven't done anything wrong.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Some people feel threatened by things they don't understand. Because of this, you may be tempted to keep quiet or pretend that you're straight. The trouble is, you can't hide your feelings forever. What's more, you shouldn't have to - you have a right to be proud of who you are.
The main thing is not to panic and cut yourself off from others. You are still the same person whether you are gay or lesbian; you can still love your friends and parents, and are still the same son or daughter or friend to them. You can still do well in your education or training, get a top job, wear normal clothes and be yourself!
You may think and worry that you have to talk to your parents, friends and family straight away about ‘coming out’ – take your time, let your feelings develop naturally and don’t do anything in a rush.
It can feel isolating to discover that your sexuality is different to other people around you, especially if you don't know anyone else who's gay or lesbian. There are agencies locally and nationally who can support you with all the issues around sexuality and the relationships it can involve. Why not pop into your local Connexions centre and ask to speak to a Personal Adviser? They can also put you in touch with local agencies who can provide the help you need.