Homosexuals, when did realize you were gay?

Question

How did your family react? I'm straight but I understand other people's choice... I'm just here to learn more about it... and TRY to help.

Answer 1

first, being gay is not a choice

I realised I was gay when I was 18, my family are pretty cool about it :D

Answer 2

My father was not alive by the time I came out. My mother who IS gay was a bit surprised. Though she did not want me to have this lifestyle, she knew the trials she went through as a young girl. So she was supportive, though she didn't exactly jump for joy. Also, I already had a child, so she was ok with the fact that I was gay maybe moreso than someone who's son or daughter has never had children and might not give them grandbabies of their bloodline. But then again, even straight people sometimes do not give their parents grandchildren.

Answer 3

I don't need any help because I am not having any problems.......

but to answer your question:

I realized that I was gay when I was 12. I was in 7th grade and I had a crush on a boy. I thought about it before then, but I wasn't really mature enough to undersand. The family members that I have told so far have all said they knew and don't care.

Answer 4

I used to just act out what felt natural to me at an early age starting at 7, I never acted like my family thought i should've and then people started calling me gay when i reach the age of 12-14 years old. I could not claim the label though until I reached my early 20's. I admitted that I was gay even though it wasn't a shocker to nobody. I just confirmed what they had already thought of me.

Answer 5

First off, if you really wanna help, realize it's NOT a choice.

I found out when I was 11, but I didn't come out (to my family) up until I was 22. My parents freaked out at first, but they accepted it. My brother never did. I moved out of the house and, about three years later, I moved out of my country as well, because it's a rather homophobic one. I've been living in Canada for the past two years.

Answer 6

ok.. before i answer your question.
peopel that previosly answered nto all are quite the brilliant one.
telling this girl she is nto straigth or is not a girl.. whats your problem?
you hate the fact when people tell you, your not gay your nto this. then leave the girl alone.
and. um. the one who hates gays...
thing is. you "find" it attractive two girls kissing, but two guys. no. which is very stupid btu thats your ignorance.
and, well me.
my Family reacted kidn of weird...
they said they accpeted the fact and blah blah, BUT to think about it and make sure i am.. and here and their say dumb comments to me but i dont care.
and then.. deep down inside it is ahrd for them to accept the fact that i am gay.
i came out. when i was 14 going to 15.
and well i also have a current b/f
and at school it may be hard.. with all these judgemental people. but i get usto it. and. people dotn be hard on thsi girl.. she just whants to know. whats goign to harm you?
and help.. well only those who need it.. but that is.. help but.. in person. isnt as easy online. but i still guess thats good. and the ncie way to say it.. is.. No thnk you i dont need help..
not. i dotn need your help! sounds all mean.. but ok. and yeah now i am 16 and i ahve been with my b/f fr 10 months!
and his family doesnt know.. because they woudlnt ever let him talk to me.. so for soem u have 2 go around it.. until it is the right time to coem out..
and i relaized when i was in like 3rd grade or younger..
i knew at a young age.. boys were always attracting to me.

Answer 7

I was 10 or so.

Answer 8

i was thirteen or so. I didn't come out till i was early 20's to friends, and 30 to family. The choice I made was to stop lying. Family was pretty cool (brother is born-again, but even he can be cool)

Answer 9

Its great that you want to be informed on the the issues.
I hope the following helps you to understand what is homosexuality..

I know its long but thats how its is with serious information :D
This is not a direct answer to your question but i think it answers perfectly what you want to understand.

Here is what the American Psychological Association states about Homosexuality (The APA is currently the World's leading Authority in the Field of Psychology).

http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.ht...

Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?

No, human beings can not choose to be either gay or straight. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.


Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?

No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable.

However, not all gay, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health professionals.

What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?

Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention.

The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent of any social bias.

Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?

No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and itself, is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information. In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new, better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate with homosexual orientation.

---- Homosexuality is also commonplace in Nature and therefore perfectly natural. (From the University of Olso)

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=20718...

"One fundamental premise in social debates has been that homosexuality is unnatural. This premise is wrong. Homosexuality is both common and highly essential in the lives of a number of species,"

Homosexual behavior has been observed in 1,500 animal species.

"We're talking about everything from mammals to crabs and worms.

"To turn the approach on its head: No species has been found in which homosexual behavior has not been shown to exist, with the exception of species that never have sex at all, such as sea urchins and aphis. Moreover, a part of the animal kingdom is hermaphroditic, truly bisexual. For them, homosexuality is not an issue."

Answer 10

It is NOT a choice.
I realized when I was 7.
My parents threw me out of the house when they found out.