Do you believe people who say they didn't know they were gay?

[KatKut]

I personally can't believe them
I always knew I was gay,when I was 6 years old I was attracted to the cutest boy of the school(he was 12 or 13) and when I was 9 I fell in love with my PE teacher, when I was 10 years old Leonardo Dicaprio was my platonic love XD so I have myself always had feelings toward people of my same gender and it's very difficult for me to believe someone who says "I'm 20 or 30 or even 40 years old and I've just realized I'm gay","I have always dated girls"
How could someone be not awere of his/her own sexuallity?
I want to know If it's just me or If there are more people who think the same

How could someone be not awere of his/her own sexuallity?
- Denial, and not everyone expresses sexual/emotional bonds toward people in a loving sort of way so early.

[kettlkorn]

hint: ask them.

[Shevanel]

Not everyone knows early in life. Simple as that.

I wasn't in denial till I was 18. I just legitimately only liked girls. Then it just made sense in my head at some point that summer that I could like guys too, and it didn't bother me. Not denial or anything of the sort.

Just because you experienced something different doesn't make it not real. I've seen the same things said from people who don't believe in bisexuality and transgender...ness? and the likes.

[Chip]

It's easier for younger people because there are constant references and reminders of the existence of gay people in culture, in the media, and in other places.

Additionally, sex, porn, masturbation, and other things are pretty widely and openly discussed among teens and even pre-teens today. That simply wasn't the case even 10 or 12 years ago.

For people who are older (particularly over 30 or 40), they grew up in a very different environment. They may have realized something was different, but not what it meant.

[KatKut]

Originally Posted by kettlkorn

hint: ask them.

I opened a discussion that has to do with homosexuals so why you're so blunt?

[IsItSo]

I didn't know that I wasn't straight until I was 12, and I grew up in a very accepting atmosphere. The desire for sex typically develops during puberty, so it makes perfect sense to me that someone might not realize whom they want to screw when they're only 6. Of course, some people do just know earlier than others, or later.

[KatKut]

Originally Posted by Chip

It's easier for younger people because there are constant references and reminders of the existence of gay people in culture, in the media, and in other places.

Additionally, sex, porn, masturbation, and other things are pretty widely and openly discussed among teens and even pre-teens today. That simply wasn't the case even 10 or 12 years ago.

For people who are older (particularly over 30 or 40), they grew up in a very different environment. They may have realized something was different, but not what it meant.

well I think even If I had lived in 1st century I would still feel attaracted to men and i would have labeled myself as a sodomite

[concklin]

So are you implying that people who say they didn't know they were gay at an early age are lying? Why would they lie about when they knew they were gay?

[Lotty]

I've just never been in love before. Yes, I knew I was different. My friend once said: when I look around, I actually never see the girls. I do see the boys, of course.
I thought: why not look at the girls.
But I didn't realize until a few weeks ago, when I fell in love with Kim.

[KatKut]

Originally Posted by IsItSo

I didn't know that I wasn't straight until I was 12, and I grew up in a very accepting atmosphere. The desire for sex typically develops during puberty, so it makes perfect sense to me that someone might not realize whom they want to screw when they're only 6. Of course, some people do just know earlier than others, or later.

when i was 6 I didn't want to suck a d... I just thoght the boy was cute and I wanted to be his boyfriend It's a fairy tale attaraction (i blame Disney) and I have never felt the same for any girl

attraction to me doesn't mean "I want to have sex with you" it's rather "I want to have a relationship with you"

---------- Post added 18th Dec 2010 at 07:17 PM ----------

Originally Posted by concklin

So are you implying that people who say they didn't know they were gay at an early age are lying? Why would they lie about when they knew they were gay?

yes and I don't understand why they lie and why people belive them I think you are born gay you know what you like and what you don't,If you ask a straight person(a real one) he will tell you he always knew he liked girls and I belive some people don't know they are gay until they are 12 or 13 but i don't believe those who say "I realized I was gay when i was 20"

[IsItSo]

Before one develops sexual feelings, one is unable to really know what they're attracted to.

[midwestblues]

Even though I've, to some degree or another, always known I was attracted to men, it seems closed-minded and self-centered to disbelieve others who say they didn't know just because -I- didn't go through that same experience.

[concklin]

Originally Posted by KatKut

yes and I don't understand why they lie and why people belive them I think you are born gay you know what you like and what you don't,If you ask a straight person(a real one) he will tell you he always knew he liked girls and i belive some people don't know they are gay until they are 12 or 13 but i don't believe those who say "I realized I was gay when i was 20"

Ah, that's different than what I thought you were saying. I don't understand that either, but when someone says something like that, it doesn't necessarily mean they were 100% sure they we're straight until they hit 20, or whatever age that you'd think one would know by.

It could have been denial, or maybe they just always thought it was a phase and then finally accepted it at that age. So some people probably just refer to the age of when they came out to themselves. Not necessarily the age of their first clue, or the age when they knew something might be up.

[KatKut]

Originally Posted by midwestblues

Even though I've, to some degree or another, always known I was attracted to men, it seems closed-minded and self-centered to disbelieve others who say they didn't know just because -I- didn't go through that same experience.

it's ok If you want to be politically correct I usually can't be politically correct I don't want to be fake I always try not to offend everyone and I never insult anyone but most of the time I got to say what is on my mind because I'm real i'm who i am i don't hide under politically correct sentences

there is just one thing I hide and it's my sexuality because i can't tell my family

[Maddy]

It's not my place to say that I know someone's mind better than they do.

[KatKut]

Originally Posted by concklin

Ah, that's different than what I thought you were saying. I don't understand that either, but when someone says something like that, it doesn't necessarily mean they were 100% sure they we're straight until they hit 20, or whatever age that you'd think one would know by.

It could have been denial, or maybe they just always thought it was a phase and then finally accepted it at that age. So some people probably just refer to the age of when they came out to themselves. Not necessarily the age of their first clue, or the age when they knew something might be up.

you gave the best answer at the moment the rest were so rude maybe because they think I'm a troll but I'm not I'm just a very polemic person I always disscus because I awlays say what i really think about everything I'm kind of rare I'm always thinking about different topics i'm always questioning everything

I do believe them when they say that because I am one of those people (people who were unaware of their orientation). Though clearly, I was only unaware for my childhood.

I do not believe people are born gay. Or for that matter, straight. I don't think sexuality is a choice either. I liked girls throughout my elementary school days and according to the OP, you are born knowing what you liked. Well, I liked girls back then. Does that mean I was born straight? I never liked boys until 6th grade. So apparently, I didn't know what I liked when I was born. Does that mean I was born straight then turned gay?

I agree with IsItSo:

Originally Posted by IsItSo

Before one develops sexual feelings, one is unable to really know what they're attracted to.

I wasn't straight turned gay. But I was certainly not born gay because if being born gay meant I had to like guys immediately, I wouldn't fit that description.

[midwestblues]

Originally Posted by KatKut

it's ok If you want to be politically correct I usually can't be politically correct I don't want to be fake I always try not to offend everyone and I never insult anyone but most of the time I got to say what is on my mind because I'm real i'm who i am i don't hide under politically correct sentences

there is just one thing I hide and it's my sexuality because i can't tell my family

Obvious troll is obvious.

[starfish]

I find your attitude very naive and disingenuous.

American society is much more accepting of homosexuality than when I was a teenager.

Matthew Shepard was killed during my senior year of high school. I grew up in a rural Texas town. I remember the story being kind of a big deal around town.

You what the big deal was. That the murders even had to stand trial for killing that faggot. The general consensus was that Matthew Shepard got what was coming to him.

At the same time I heard from my church about how evil homosexuals were. That they were sent here by the devil to destroy our families and to rape our young boys.

And you know what. Compared to the generation before me I had a walk in the park. Once you understand what we went through you can understand why it took so long to figure our our sexuality.

So before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes.