You think you might be gay?

THE SHORT ANSWER: You'll know when you know. It could take a while, and
there's no need to rush.

Some gay people say that, from the time they were very young - even just
five or six - they "felt different." They didn't share the grade-school
crushes about which friends talked, or they had crushes on friends of
their own sex-and no one seemed to be talking about that.

Often, they say, it took a while to put a name to their feelings - to
begin to think of themselves as gay, or lesbian, or bisexual. But when
they started thinking in those words, it made sense - is it with the
feelings they'd had growing up.

Many other people, though, don't begin to figure out their sexual
orientation until they're teenagers or even adults - and it can be
confusing.

At some point, almost everybody gets a "crush" on someone of the same sex,
like a great teacher or a friend's older sister or brother. Almost
everybody's "best friend" is of the same sex. But none of that means
you're gay.

One or two sexual experiences with someone of the same sex may not mean
you're gay, either - just as one or two sexual experiences with someone of
the opposite sex may not mean you're straight. Many gay people have some
sexual experiences with the opposite gender, and many straight people have
some sexual experiences with their own gender

It's important to know, too, that you can be a virgin or not be sexually
active and still know that you're gay. Your feelings and your emotional
and physical attractions will help tell you who you are.

Our sexuality develops over time. Only worry if you aren't sure. The
teen years are a time of figuring out what works for you, and crushes and
experimentation are often part of that. Over time, you'll find that
you're drawn mostly to men or to women - or to both - and you'll know
then. You don't have to label yourself today.

If you think you're gay, lesbian, or bisexual, don't be afraid of it, and
don't hide your feelings from yourself. All that does is keep you from
figuring out your sexual identity - from figuring yourself out.