How Did You Know You Were Gay?

GLBT teens often feel different than their straight peers from an early age. Here some gay teens share their stories and answer the questions: When did you know you were different and how did you know you were gay?

1. "I Knew I Was Different in Elementary School"

Sid, a 16-year-old gay teen from California, who is into a ton of bands explains:

"I realized that I was gay in high school, but I had known that I was different since elementary school. However, because I never understood the term "gay", I was "straight." Then I was "bi" thinking that when I was "straight" that I really liked girls, when in fact I just like them as friends. When I did finally learn of the term gay, I was like, Duh! That explains so much. Fortunately, I had no issue accepting it since I live in a liberal, open-minded town."

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2. "My Attractions Were Overshadowed by My Aspergers"

Kushamo, a 14-year-old gay teen who is into books like The Dragon's Secret by Lyra Trice Solis and any TV show on the Discovery Network says:

"I'd say that my attractions were overshadowed by my Aspergers throughout most of elementary school. Although there was this one time at a play-date in 4th or 5th grade, and my friend's mom insisted that we shower because she thought we smelled bad and I suggested we do it together "to save time". Now I'm not sure if that was the real reason or if my curiosity got the better of me."

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• Autism - Asperger's and Sexuality

3. "I Just Put All the Pieces Together"

AHockey, a 17-year-old Tolkien and J.K. Rowling fan explains, he first felt different,

"Back in 5th or 6th grade when I noticed I was having these weird feelings for one of my friends. Also I'd catch myself noticing members of the same sex differently then other boys. I wasn't able to put all the pieces together till this year when I was in 10th grade and even then it was hard to accept at first."

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4. "I Tried to Convince Myself Otherwise"

Primoskater, a 16-year-old Canada who is into punk and hardcore music explains,

"I'd say I figured it out back in elementary school but I tried to convince myself otherwise by dating girls which in the long run was stupid. I look back and think about how naive I was, but nobody really got hurt but me and I lived through it. I truly accepted I was gay in the ninth grade when I started crushing majorly on a good friend of mine (I still have the same crush and its only getting worse)."

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• I Have a Girlfriend But I Think I'm Gay. What Should I Do?