We have listed 30 sgers you may not have known were lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr or queer. How many have you heard of?
Contents:
- CAN SOMEONE BE HOMOSEXUAL AND NOT GAY?
- HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GAY
- THE SOLUTN TO "GAY" INSULTS: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
- HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM GAY? SIGNS YOU ARE GAY
- HOW DO I KNOW I’M NOT REALLY GAY/STRAIGHT?
CAN SOMEONE BE HOMOSEXUAL AND NOT GAY?
Do we need laws forbiddg the "gay" sult? * you may not be as gay *
So when we therapists are nonted wh male clients, often married on, who e to wh ep nflicts about their sexual attractn to other men, we often fd that they are willg to e the word “homosexual, ” but chew the “gay” label. Bee “gay” impli an embracg of the gay liftyle — gay bars, gay pri paras, perhaps multiple sex partners, or even anonymo sex. Unfortunately, much of our natn’s polics have long exacerbated the problem as well, shamg and vilifyg homosexualy, leadg legns of men stgglg wh sexual inty to ternalize their homophobia.
For example, gay men the Mormon fah are moral nflict. Durg the’90s, I beme a “gay-affirmative therapist. I warned them of the pfalls of keepg their sexual orientatn secret: a life of creased prsn, pursug a secret life the gay unrground wh the danger of beg ught, how attemptg to supprs urg n often e them to bee even more obssed wh them.
Beg a gay man, I was tryg to brg them to where I was at. Durg this time, a man don’t see himself as gay, only homosexual. The term gay is too affirmative, and they are not ready to accept .
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GAY
* you may not be as gay *
I have treated many men who are of Mormon, Orthodox Jewish, Catholic, and other religns who thk of homosexualy as a pathology.
Their pa is excciatg, but I honor their bravery riskg losg everythg to ensure they have a qualy life as a gay man. They may need, om time to time, to seek further therapy, but wh the right therapist, one who has thoroughly unrstood the dangers of such practic of “reparative therapy” which the therapist seeks to change the client’s sexual inty om gay to straight. Bee the labels “homosexual” or “gay” rry such a stigma, some of the men seek help for their “sex addictn” and see their homosexualy as an actg out of same-sex urg.
THE SOLUTN TO "GAY" INSULTS: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Many young men intify as mostly straight — a sexual orientatn that is not que straight but also, they say, ls gay than bisexualy * you may not be as gay *
Beg homosexual, gay, or havg same-sex attractn is not sex addictn, and should never be treated as such. I thk of them as beg hetero-emotnal homosexuals.
Gay dividuals are romantilly or sexually attracted to people who are the same genr as them.
If you’re more aroed by people who are the same genr as you, you might be gay.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM GAY? SIGNS YOU ARE GAY
Keep md that experienc of sexual aroal are extremely nuanced, and aren’t ncrete proof that you’re gay. For stance, you n be aroed by gay adult media whout necsarily beg gay yourself. If you tend to velop csh on people who are the same genr as you, uld be a sign that you’re gay.
You n be gay even if you’ve had straight relatnships the past. If you felt unfortable wh physil ntact wh each girl, you may be gay.
If you often fantasize about relatnships volvg specific genrs, you may be queer or gay. You may be gay, but you uld also be pansexual or bisexual if you sometim thk about the other genr.
HOW DO I KNOW I’M NOT REALLY GAY/STRAIGHT?
Don’t assume you’re gay based on how you walk, talk, or drs. You’ve probably heard stereotyp about what mak someone gay, but none of the are te. Siarly, walkg or dancg a certa way don’t make you gay, eher.
For stance, havg a high-pched voice as a guy don’t make you gay.
If you enjoy flirtg wh the same genr, you might be gay or queer.