I am not sure what the best route is for you overall, but I have strong yellow or red flags about having a personal relationship with a coworker for a couple reasons.

First, you might start a relationship and it does not work out and it could make your job difficult

Secondly, in the course of getting to know the coworker, you may tell your preferences for men sexually and this could get around the office and make life difficult

Having an affair with a coworker could be considered sexual abuse in some offices and grounds for getting fired directly or indirectly. It is hard to anticipate.

You can have virtual friendships online and not risk any of those work possibilities. In the end it is a personal decision, but I wanted to point out consequences that may occur (have seen this happen) and are difficult to anticipate.