Sexuality

It's not difficult to realise that gender and sexuality are entirely different things.

Gender is who you are and what you identify as.

Sexuality is who you are attracted to.

Just like gender, sexuality is on a scale.

Obviously, there are straight people, who are only attracted to the opposite sex.

Then, there are gay people, who are only attracted to the same sex.

Bisexuals are attracted to both men and women.

Pansexuals are attracted to any gender. This does not mean that pansexuals are attracted to everybody. Just like how straight people find certain people attractive, pansexuals do too, however their attraction is not limited by gender.

Asexuals have no sexual attraction to anybody.

What I've learned over the last few years is that it's okay to be any one of these (there are many, many more on the scale).

There are so many sexualities, it's sad to think that people feel like they have to find their label.

I have identified as L,G,B, T and Q within the past decade.

At fifteen, I discovered that I liked both men and women (bisexual). For a few months, I was convinced that I was only interested in women (lesbian). Then, I came to terms with my gender issues and began experimenting with gender fluidity (queer). Obviously, I discovered that I didn't identify with being female (transgender). I was in a relationship with another man for a few months (gay). When I started hormone replacement treatment, I was convinced that I was solely attracted to women again (straight). As my hormones settled down, I realised that I was still attracted to men and, in fact, all genders (pansexual).

So... let's say I've had fun!

What am I now? I simply don't know.

I always picture myself ending up with a woman, but in reality, I never meet women I'm attracted to. I've taken a step back recently to re-evaluate as to whether I'm even attracted to women at all, and I always come up with the same conclusion... I have absolutely no idea! For now, I'm alright with that.

Why should it matter? Being gay, or lesbian, or bisexual, or transgender, or queer, doesn't make me a better or worse person, and unless I'm getting off with them, it certainly shouldn't matter to anybody else!

I'm not saying that sexuality isn't important, and people should feel proud and liberated by their sexuality, but if we are to teach the next generation that there is nothing wrong with being in the LGBTQ community, then we need to teach them that the LGBTQ community are no different from the straight community. Because we're not. We're all human.

At the end of the day, if I fall in love with someone, I fall in love with them, no matter who they are or what they have.

And that's okay.

fab