Burton, I am an adult woman who was abused as a child. One of my abusers was my older brother. Older by four years. He was a child of 8; I was 4 when it started. I always wondered what would have made him start that and how would he now the physical things he knew. Come to find out he was being abused by an adult friend of my dad. The thing is, I am not saying your friend is not responsible, I am saying that if he was your age he was most likely a victim himself. The fact that you are talking about it here means that you are GOING TO BE OK!! You have taken the first step to healing and health and happiness, my friend.

As to the sexual orientation issue. I agree with other posts, children naturally experiement and experienceing pleasure with a same sex friend as a child does not mean you are gay. I do know that my brother struggled into late adulthood with the shame and guilt of being abused by a man, and as a result destroyed two marriages through his recurrent infidelity...trying to prove to himself he wasn't gay. He wasn't, he isn't, but I understand his struggle.

As to you? Being abused won't make you gay. You just need to breathe and get some support from a good therapist and breathe lots more. And be kind to yourself and learn to love yourself. You will figure out the rest once you learn to love and accept yourself. But healing from abuse will take time and commitment, you will need to learn skills and practice them. But you can do it. You are young and you already shown you have the courage to face your abuse. And .... the abuse is over. It is no longer happening and you are safe. Be kind to yourself.