How will I know when I know?

You could just come out as 'not straight' which then includes lots of options as you figure it out.

 

I think coming out is a process that involves a lot of internal and sometimes external exploration. You should try to not be so caught up in labels or having to stick to labels. I mean most of us are just assumed to be heterosexual by society from birth and we shed those labels. When I first came out I wasn't sure how to label myself but I knew I wasn't straight so I left it fairly open and told my best friend I fell on the spectrum somewhere between gay and straight. Of course since then, I have come out as a Lesbian and feel like it's a label that fits my sexuality well.

I think it's really great that you are in a happy relationship I think being able to explore your feelings with this person will really help with how you identify. Do what feels right and be true to yourself - that's all you can really do. Eventually you may find a way to label yourself, or may not but I think at the end of the day the best label you can give yourself is happy. Happy with who you are and who you're with

 

just gonna put this here:
When I started thinking about being gay, I thought it was the first time I was actually realizing it etc. But now 2 years later, I can even find signs of when I was only 10 that I only liked guys, it seemed I just didn't see the signs. Like: I checked out boys, but never girls. Just didn't realize it.

 

I didn't start feeling very sure of myself until a few months after coming out. Coming out kind of forced me to be certain because people kept asking me if I was sure. :lol:

I knew I was certain when I considered it a simple fact of reality and didn't think of it as a complex thing, I guess.

 

people ask if you are sure because its hard for them to understand.
Im BI, and I really can not understand how any male can look at a beautiful woman and not have at least a little bit of a desire to be with her.
People can only really understand what is in their own mind.
Its also why people end up making offensive comments to people that might be different then they are. They might not mean to, but in the end, they do.

 

Hey try not to stress about it. This is a fear almost everyone goes through before they come out I know I did.
I am going to give you a piece of advice that lots of people gave me before I was out and that I have seen given to lots of people. You will know when the time is right. Now before I was out I thought it was the most ridiculous bit of advice I mean how can you know, how can you go from not being ready to being ready and just know, what changes? I never thought I would be ready. I cant really tell you what changed but gradually I became ready and somehow I knew the time was right for me. The only way I can explain it is that the time is right when the fear of coming out is overpower or outweighed by the desire and need to come out. Its almost like the tipping of the scales and it only takes the desire to come out to get that little bit greater and you will know.

Is the thought that you might be wrong the only thing stopping you from coming out?