At what age is your sexual orientation "fixed"?

Answer 1

birth

Answer 2

Well, there are a lot of different theories out there. Suffice to say, nobody knows for sure.

Some people believe that sexual orientation is genetic, inborn, and therefore, fixed- the minute egg meets sperm, you are either gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, whatever, and there ain't no changing that- the most you can do is be in denial about it and 'discover' it later. The other side of the argument says that sexual orientation is something else- maybe part pyschological, maybe part personality, maybe environmental. And, quite personally, I tend to feel that it's not just one or the other, but a combination of both- there is evidence towards a biological, genetic component to sexuality, but few things in this natural world are simply genetic, but rather a complex interaction between genes and environment. Not to mention that humans are far different than animals- we don't have just a base sex drive to copulate, but the ability to have complex desires. Human sexuality is such a tangled thing, I can't hardly believe that we can genes is responsible for the vast, amazing array of sexual behavior, fetishes, and whatnot that we have created.

If that's true, then, when can we say that sexual orientation is fixed? Technically, I suppose never, not really. But in practice, it seems that most people who are given knowledge of the possible sexual orientations out there, who are given the opportunity to experiment if they so choose, and who have no undue pressure to be a certain sexual orientation (which can lead to denial), about 15 to 25 is when most people start to feel settled and comfortable in their sexual orientation, if not earlier (and many feel it quite earlier). But it simply isn't a rule- I know people who have had shifts in their sexual preferences when they're forty, fifty . . . for whatever reason.

Personally, I feel that even if sexual orientation doesn't, our general sexuality definitely never stops growing. Ever since childhood, I feel, my experiences, thoughts, environment, and other exposures have combined and worked to develop who I am as a sexual person, and they still do. They inform my fantasies, they develop new fetishes and retire old ones, and basically, I don't think people ever stop evolving, pyschosexually.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

At birth and yet never.

Your sexual orientation is determined at birth. Whether you get to realise or experiment with your sexual orientation is another story.

I believe that you can never truly know your sexual orientation for sure, because you never know how you are going to feel in the future, or who you are going to meet.

I thought I was a lesbian until I reached the age of 17. Then I suddenly started finding guys attracted. Now I see myself as bisexual, because I currently find both sexes attractive.

xx Emmie

Answer 4

Birth

Answer 5

I don't think sexual orientation is fixed, as it can fluctuate - especially in the case of bisexuals. However, most people who have same sex attraction realised from the ages of 5-10.

Answer 6

i don't think there's such a thing as fixed orientation because:

1. there are some people who do self discovery until their fifties

2. there are some who are straight at an earlier age but became homo during their adult age and vice versa

3. the truth is no one is a hundred percent straight or homo, its just that there is something dominant in us. But we have to remember taht we have power over ourselves to change that orientation

so fixed? Nah, i doont think so!

Answer 7

If I understand your concern, most gays and lesbians go through a questioning phase at the onset of puberty. Many make a decision right there (in my case, around 14/15). Some drag their doubts much longer and some never "scratch that itch", but you can't really say that they changed orientation, but rather repressed their feelings.

Answer 8

Birth.

Everyone in the GLBT community will tell you the same thing, they always knew they were, they just didn't know the word, or that it was different.

But really I don't get why people are so obsessed with sexual orientation, it's a minor part of a person, get over it already. There's bigger issues in life, like war, disease, Climate Change, poverty, death. This is a tiny part of a person, get over it already.

Answer 9

I'm not sure it's ever completely fixed, i think were constantly walking a tight rope and could be persuaded to try something else if the circumstances were right, like being drunk or in a foreign land and being away from family and friends.

Answer 10

75

Answer 11

However old you are, when you decide to fix it. Many people don't see the need to be closed, so don't 'fix' it. Otherwise, everyone has their own particular view of their own sexuality, from birth, or when they could understand their needs etc.

Good luck! Rob