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College grad finally realized I'm not straight...but gay or bi?

Discussion in 'Sexual Orientation' started by jordan123, May 25, 2014.

  1. jordan123

    Regular Member

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    About Me: I'm a 22 year old male who just graduated at the top of his class from a prominent state university and will be moving across the country to a large US city in a few weeks. Within the last year, I've started to acknowledge the fact I might be gay. I've come out to a few gay friends (including one who I hooked up with recently). However, I'm starting to wonder if I'm actually bi. I'm scared to come out to my straight friends and family, but even more scared that I might tell them the wrong orientation (i.e. tell them I'm gay when a year later I realize I'm bi).

    Background:I grew up in a tiny rural community where there were only a handful of out gay people, all of whom personified every stereotype known to man. I was always attracted to other guys (peeking at them while they changed in the locker room, getting excited about the prospect of group showers, watching gay porn from pretty much the beginning) but never even considered the possibility that I was gay. I figured it was just a phase and more about an appreciation of other men's physicality than a sexual attraction. I dated a few girls but definitely had feelings for some of my male friends.

    College:In college, my world opened up a lot and several close friends came out to me and I made new gay friends. At that point, I started to realize being gay didn't have to be one's entire identity and I found a new level of comfort with gay people. Starting freshman year, I had a regular friend with benefits (female) who I wasn't really that into, but the benefits were good. At the same time, I developed a huge crush on one of my very close (straight male) friends. We've been inseparable ever since and are definitely best friends. We do everything together, talk for hours on end, and share most beliefs. I've dreamed and day-dreamed countless times about something physical happening between us or me coming out to him. At parties, I dance with girls, occasionally make out with girls, and every once in a while bring a girl to bed. But I always find myself wishing I was with the hot guy I saw at the party or even better, with my aforementioned friend.

    Recent Developments: Roughly a year ago, I was on a walk by myself when it finally struck me that I was probably gay. Besides my friend, there was another guy (openly gay) I was pretty interested in. We texted occasionally during the fall and one night this fall after bar close, I accepted his invitation to his house. We made out and I slept over. We repeated that once more in spring. A few weeks later, I came out to another gay friend of mine when asked straight up if I was gay. That same week, I went home with a female friend (while we were both drunk) and got a BJ. Very recently, the friend I had made out with invited me over. I went to his place, we made out, things escalated, we got naked, and we ended up having sex...and I enjoyed it.

    Summary: Obviously, I'm not straight. I've pretty much come to terms with that. I've told a few of my gay friends that I'm gay and have done enough "experimenting" to say with confidence that I enjoy being with men. I almost exclusively look at gay porn and think about men when I masturbate. But, there's a nagging part of me that says I might be bi...I've had experiences with women and been satisfied. But, I think I picture myself with a guy in my future. Specifically, my best friend (of course, my fantasy is that he's also closeted). That said, I don't really want to be gay, I don't want to come out to my friends and family (even the accepting ones), I don't want to have to go through the explaining and the disappointments and the fights. On top of that, I'm leaving my home state behind and moving to a new city in a few weeks.

    Questions: How do I figure out my sexuality? Should I come out to my best friend? How should I approach coming out, given that I'm still not sure if I'm gay or bi, and that I'm moving across the country in a few weeks? How should I approach coming out to people in my new city?
     
  2. themoose

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    This is like reading a summary of my coming out lol...

    It sounds like you're bi to me. Only way to find out though is to actually meet guys and girls and see what you prefer (although it does sound like you lean more towards guys).

    With regards to moving to the new city, take it as a chance to turn a new leaf. It's new ground, people don't know you yet so there is no reason to lie to them and it's obvious that you have these feelings so there isn't much reason to lie about it (provided you're comfortable with it). I only came out a couple of months ago and moved to a new city, and when I met new people if they asked questions directly I dropped my orientation into the mix. No reason to lie about it. That way it's less of a "coming out" and just part of the "getting to know you" stage :slight_smile:

    Other people feel free to chip in :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
     
  3. Hyaline

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    As themoose said, the great part about a new city is that nobody is likely to know you. So the coming out can simply be "hi, I am xxxxx, and I am gay/bi"... While it seems odd, if youhave already admitted it to yourself, then you are well on your way. Of course I am not sure I would open with that line, but being honest from the start will make it easier...

    To me, you sound bi. Do you imagine yourself in a romantic relationship with avguy or girl? That is sometimes a good place to start when you are trying to figure out how you feel towards either sex.
     
  4. Julieno

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    That's basically a summary of my story too (an small town boy too :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:), though one girlfriend was enough for me to realize I was not into women (but you sound bi with preference for guys to be fair)

    But yeah, my coming out consisted in moving to another city. From the very beginning, whenever someone made a comment assuming I was hetero or asked something about relationships I just said I was into guys (not exactly with that words). After that my "new life" was so much better that I decided that i needed to come out back home too. I guess the best thing of bieng open from the beginning is that homophobes will just voluntarily not associate with you (which is perfectly fine for me).

    I think you have a great chance to grab life by the balls. My experiences so far have been really good so I would encourage you to just be yourself :slight_smile:
     
  5. jnr183

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    I am going through the same thing as you, basically, only 10 years later. It sounds like you are bi; I consider myself as bi but really I am looking to date men, so I am starting to tell people that I am gay (in my mind, more "definitive").

    My decision to come out was triggered by the fact that I fell in love with a new friend- a friend that quickly became a best friend- sounds like my relationship with him is similar to your relationship with your friend. Nothing physical has happened between us and I don't get a lot of physical cues that he is interested, but our friendship is a lot more intimate than a normal straight guy friendship is, in my opinion. He has a girlfriend who he admittedly doesn't love and, I guess, well deep down I think he is either in the closet or gay/bi and he hasn't realized it yet. I could go on forever about this but this is about you not me.... what I'm getting at is I came out to him a few weeks ago- did not tell him I had feelings for him- he was absolutely wonderful even though I was worried he might not be. I still hope he'll come out to me but I need to accept things as they are for now and move on, I think.

    I think you should tell your friend when and if you feel ready. Don't rush anything. I think moving is great and will help you get through this process or at least get it started.

    Good luck, man. It is a confusing thing for sure. Keep us posted.