Sexuality: Gay, Straight & Bisexual / Question
Published: March 29, 2007
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I’m think I’m gay but I’m scared to know or not signed scared.
Signed: I Think I Am Gay, But I'm Scared To Know
Dear I Think I Am Gay, But I'm Scared To Know,
When a person comes to acknowledge and accept that either he or she is gay, it can be a very difficult time for that person. TeenHealthFX can appreciate that this might be a scary time for you as you are faced with your own thoughts and feelings about homosexuality, as well as with the prospect of telling friends and family members and imagining how they will all react.
Research tells us that being gay is not a choice, but that people are born with whatever sexual identity they have. And only you can know what your sexual orientation is – and it sounds like your intuition is telling you that you are gay. That said, what FX recommends is that you find someone to speak with about whatever feelings are coming up for you about being gay – someone who can be of help to you in dealing with whatever might be feeling particularly hard or scary for you right now about this. Think of a trusted person who you feel would be supportive and understanding, such as a family member, friend, teacher, guidance counselor, school social worker or private therapist. And hopefully with time you will come to feel less fearful of your sexual orientation, and you will accept and embrace it as a positive part of who you are.
If you live in northern
You can also contact:
- Gay and Lesbian National Hotline, 1-888-THE-GLNH (366-8288), 24hours, 7 days a week
- Gays and Lesbian Teens, 1-800-850-8078, 24 hours, 7days a week (A crisis hotline for gay, lesbian and questioning youth, ages 25 and younger).
Signed: TeenHealthFX
