[HelloWorld18]

I'm curious to see how accepting people are.

If you wanna read and comment:
I just turned 21, and since I could remember I've struggled with my sexuality. I grew up in a very religious household (Baptist) so I was always taught that homosexuality was a sin and unnatural. Because of that, I always hated myself because I never noticed the girls, I would just notice the guys. I felt like I was some sort of 'freak' because i would look at other guys. The town I grew up in, was very small and very mormon/Christian btw, so there were very few gay people there. Whenever I was asked (which happened a lot) if i were gay, id say no I'm straight. Every night I would pray to God asking to just wake up the next day finding myself more attracted to women. Overall, you get the idea.

Starting about 8 months ago I began 'dating' guys. Then I started dating for a boyfriend, to which I found 6 months ago. A month after we were dating I 'came out' to my friends. But I didn't say or label myself, I just posted a picture of my boyfriend kissing me on the cheek w/o a caption. After that I began posting him on my instagram and snapchat (not Facebook). I'm very nervous and i've been thinking for months how i can avoid coming out to my family. I hate being labelled, very much. I don't want my sexuality to be an identifying characteristic when people talk about me or think about me. My boyfriend and I believe in respecting others, i understand that to some people two guys dating isn't normal, all we do in public is hold hands, hug, and (a huge) maybe a peck on the lips or cheek. Were both not really effeminate compared to other guys. Like we don't dress weird or act feminine, were also not always lovey dovey or anything in public. To my surprise, I haven't really gotten any negative feedback on my sexuality from my friends and even strangers. Several times we've been complimented saying how cute we are. Growing up, I was seen as a weird kid, i was liked by some and disliked by others. The people who liked me would say i was weird or 'quirky'. Looking back, I think a lot of my weirdness came from the self hate, anger, and confusion that went along with my sexuality. I mean, I'm still weird, but more of a positive quirkiness.

I live in an urban area and honestly don't personally know anyone who outwardly expresses any objection to homosexuality. That doesn't mean they may not have personal objections to it, but they keep their mouths shut about it if they do object. But I find most people in my area are really rather accepting and don't give it much second thought.

I give it no thought. It's a non-issue for me

Non-issue for me too, I was not brought up to believe anything was wrong (non-religiously) so I don't.

[s4ndm4n2006]

Originally Posted by HelloWorld18

I'm curious to see how accepting people are.

If you wanna read and comment:
I just turned 21, and since I could remember I've struggled with my sexuality. I grew up in a very religious household (Baptist) so I was always taught that homosexuality was a sin and unnatural. Because of that, I always hated myself because I never noticed the girls, I would just notice the guys. I felt like I was some sort of 'freak' because i would look at other guys. The town I grew up in, was very small and very mormon/Christian btw, so there were very few gay people there. Whenever I was asked (which happened a lot) if i were gay, id say no I'm straight. Every night I would pray to God asking to just wake up the next day finding myself more attracted to women. Overall, you get the idea.

Starting about 8 months ago I began 'dating' guys. Then I started dating for a boyfriend, to which I found 6 months ago. A month after we were dating I 'came out' to my friends. But I didn't say or label myself, I just posted a picture of my boyfriend kissing me on the cheek w/o a caption. After that I began posting him on my instagram and snapchat (not Facebook). I'm very nervous and i've been thinking for months how i can avoid coming out to my family. I hate being labelled, very much. I don't want my sexuality to be an identifying characteristic when people talk about me or think about me. My boyfriend and I believe in respecting others, i understand that to some people two guys dating isn't normal, all we do in public is hold hands, hug, and (a huge) maybe a peck on the lips or cheek. Were both not really effeminate compared to other guys. Like we don't dress weird or act feminine, were also not always lovey dovey or anything in public. To my surprise, I haven't really gotten any negative feedback on my sexuality from my friends and even strangers. Several times we've been complimented saying how cute we are. Growing up, I was seen as a weird kid, i was liked by some and disliked by others. The people who liked me would say i was weird or 'quirky'. Looking back, I think a lot of my weirdness came from the self hate, anger, and confusion that went along with my sexuality. I mean, I'm still weird, but more of a positive quirkiness.

I'm just going to say this. first it really doesn't matter what people's view is on it if you feel the way you do is fine and you have no issues with it yourself. No matter who you are, where you live or how you live your life there will be people that think things about your life, and behavior is weird or different or any other number of reasons to reject. Because of this, you just plug on ahead and do what you feel is right and good and unless you question it yourself, other's opinions or beliefs on it really should not matter.

You state that you are concerned with this in the way that you don't want your sexuality to be something that defines you. but this is a double edged sword in a way. First off, your sexual orientation, whether you like it or not is about you, it is about what you are, and who you are because it defines a lot of things about how you live your life. Just the same as a straight person, this partially defines them too and makes them what they are. And my point is, this is ok.

But, that being said, if you mean you don't want to stand out to others as being solely identified as "my gay friend", I get that. But I think the solution for that is that you don't make anything of it. This is normal and just day to day life for you so treat it as such. I don't go through life making sure people know that I am interested in women, there is no need, it is just how I am.

Posting the pics of you and your bf is what everyone does with a mate. don't make it a big deal that you're gay, make it a big deal that you're posting about the one you love just like everyone loves to do! I hope I make sense. dont' bring up the issue to others, question how they feel about it or even "let them know" that you're gay. Just. Be. yourself.

If someone has a problem it is entirely on their shoulders and not your concern

[divine1966]

It's like asking what your view point on skin color or straight hair or any other feature people were born with. It's there?

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[Bill3]

I'm very nervous and i've been thinking for months how i can avoid coming out to my family. I hate being labelled, very much. I don't want my sexuality to be an identifying characteristic when people talk about me or think about me.

I think that you might want to have a plan in place for the time that you decide to come out to your family (or for the time that they find out before you tell them). As much as you hate being labelled, you cannot stop them from labeling you if that is what they decide to do. Given what you said about their views on homosexuality, I am sorry to say that it sounds like there is a good chance that they are going to label you once they know. My advice is to be prepared in case this does happen.

[Hedgeleaf]

Doesn't bother me either way, gay straight bisexual transgender transsexual.. You get the idea.

People fall in love with who they fall in love with, not who other people think they should fall in love with.

You need to be who you are. If people cannot accept that or have a problem with it then it's their problem and says a hell of a lots more about them than it does about you.

Society is and has changed a lot over the past 30 years when it comes to sexuality. It's legal to now marry the same sex so that says a lot

Be proud of who you are

I don't find that I can concern myself with things like that...life is too short.

I feel sorry for people who, for whatever reason, feel like they cannot express who they are. I wish the road was easier for all...