Being Bi at such a young age?

[bornthisway]

What do you guys think about the kids that say they're "12 & bi" or an age that they haven't really been exposed and say they're bi?
I feel that they most likely haven't been exposed enough to the world, or that their hormones are getting the better of them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that some of them are sure of their sexuality, but I feel that kids are so young and are already labeling themselves.

You make think of me as a hipocrite, but I'm not. I am Bi-CURIOUS. I am curious about experimenting with men, but I'm not ready to label myself completely, so I'm not a hipocrite.

[Wicked_Syn]

I think they're labeling themselves to early. When I was 13, I thought I was gay...anyway. I think a better title they should label themselves is curious. Not straight, gay, or bi.

[Jess]

yeah it's a bit too early. I agree with iWeed. "curious" would be better

[Genghis Khan]

If they're 12, I doubt they've even had a proper relationship or experienced love. Labelling yourself as a bisexual at that age just seems ridiculous.

[RoseyCadaver]

12 is rather young,I think when you're my age or around that (15-17ish) then I think there is no problem with it,then again I label myself bi so that might be it too.

Let them do what they want though,if they think they're bi,then why not let them think that,maybe they're :P?

[Ender]

1st let me say, how would you be a hipocrite? You're 16 and claiming to be bi-curious, and comparing that to being 12 and labeling yourself as bi/gay. Unlerss you're lying about your age to gain access to this forum, I dont see anything hipocritical about that.

Onto the debate. Some people just know. Some people constantly change their sexual-orientation-label as they go on throughout life. I've labeled myself 6 different ways between the age of 12 and now, and none of those labels have been straight. So I obviously have an attraction to men, but trying to gauge the scale of that attraction and how I wish to express it, and comparing it to my attraction to females is where I hit the speed bump. I say if they're 12 and think they're bi, let them think that, let them roll on through life an really find their true selves. I see nothing wrong with it,

[bornthisway]

@Ender- Trust me, I'm 16. And I don't know. Some people may just think that I am being hipocritical.

[jordanwhite]

age? 13 what am i? straight curious :D not going to say anything else

[Sugaree]

I do think that they label themselves too early. To just automatically jump to a conclusion about one's sexuality is just stupid. If people feel that way, then fine. But don't make the assumption that you're bisexual, gay, etc. just because you feel that way at one point in your life. Give it time and thought first.

[bornthisway]

age? 13 what am i? straight curious :D not going to say anything else

"Straight curious"- i like that. im gonna use that(:

[Continuum]

I agree with Murdoc. Labeling yourself even before you thought about it is ridiculous. I just think that they're still kids, and hope they would rediscover themselves afterwards. If that's their true calling, then let them be. We have no rights to interfere, unless it had serious issues.

PS. I accidentally clicked no, again.

[OneTwo]

I think the op is a hypocrite, considering the name he uses on here is 'born this way' my god. if someone has the courage to say what they think they are they dont need to be 'labeled' by some 16 year whos already gone through it and is still to scared to figure it out. so let me label you 'hypocrite'

[Wicked_Syn]

age? 13 what am i? straight curious :D not going to say anything else


You are another example Jordan, you've said 3 different things to me. You're not old enough to know.

[Neverender]

Here is the issue. They are cought up in stereptypes and labeling. Sexuality is more than 1 demension. Something all too many adolescent gays think is thaqt they are "Gay Boys". No, They are boys, who happen to be gay. If you dressed in skinny jeans and makeup before coming out, stay that way and be yourself. If you rode dirtbikes and wore shorts and t-shirt before coming out, continue to do so, being gay does not mean you dress a certain way, or do certain things. It means you like boys (Or girls, if you're lesbian). And unfortunately, too many kids label themselves or come out because they dress that way and think that automatically dictates what and who they are and will become. It's frustrating trying to talk to them too because they're unbelieveably immature about the whole thing and think anyone saying anything about sexual orientation to them is homophobic. While I would tell these kids off, it's not for being gay.

[Bimmerhead]

I believe that you are born straight/gay/bi. But children who label themselves at such a young age are either doing it for attention or because they are going through puberty and I think we all know that's a roller coaster of hormones and emotion. When I was 12 I really didn't know that much about sex or what I was feeling at the time! Who does?! Like others have said above I believe it also helps them shape who they will turn out to be and gives them some comfort in themselves which is sad. Did I say they get lot of attention? lol Too much attention even negative attention from the assholes is good attention which is sad :( Its a bad situation IMO and im not saying they are not gay, im just saying they need to wait a few years before coming out with it because that's a major alternative life decision!

[bornthisway]

@OneTwo- SORRY. Didn't know that refering to my favorite artist and what she believes in means I'm a hipocrite. ALSO. I'm not labeling them. They've labled themselves (no offense to anyone).

[CaptainObvious]

I totally disagree with everything that's been said here so far. I can identify obvious gay feelings from as young as 7-8 years old. I have been self-identified (without any internal questioning) since about age 12. I continue to be 100% gay, and it's not changing. How can any of you possibly question how early someone identifies their sexuality? Do you do the same thing for 12 and 13 year olds who self-identify as straight?

[bornthisway]

I totally disagree with everything that's been said here so far. I can identify obvious gay feelings from as young as 7-8 years old. I have been self-identified (without any internal questioning) since about age 12. I continue to be 100% gay, and it's not changing. How can any of you possibly question how early someone identifies their sexuality? Do you do the same thing for 12 and 13 year olds who self-identify as straight?

That's why I said that some of them are sure of their sexuality. I'm not trying to bash anyones sexuality or perspective of their life. I just wanted to see who thought what.

And now that I think about it, I never thought of "12 and 13 year olds who self-identify as straight." I always just thought that (no matter how bad it may seem to anybody [and again, I'm not trying to bash anyone]), young kids were straight until they thought otherwise. But I guess it could go any way.

[Sith Lord 13]

I totally disagree with everything that's been said here so far. I can identify obvious gay feelings from as young as 7-8 years old. I have been self-identified (without any internal questioning) since about age 12. I continue to be 100% gay, and it's not changing.

From my experience, you're the exception, rather than the rule.

How can any of you possibly question how early someone identifies their sexuality?

We're just observing how common it is for children that young to change their identification several times over.

Do you do the same thing for 12 and 13 year olds who self-identify as straight?

Yes. I feel trying to lock in your sexuality at any time before your mid 20s is not the best idea, and that you should let yourself continue to evolve and fluctuate. Not everyone will, but encouraging an open mind is always for the best.

[Pancakes]

I decided I was Bi but a little more into chicks when I was 13 but I think there kids if they are comfortable labeling them selves, but I wouldn't do it at 12 cause you know all the immature little kids :)

[CaptainObvious]

From my experience, you're the exception, rather than the rule.

I don't think that's true. The majority of people I have met will readily agree that the orientation they internally identified (whatever they externally labeled themselves) at 12 or so was the same after they exited puberty. Not many people fluctuate as much in orientation as you suggest. However, many will fluctuate in which orientation they publicly identify as to the world.

Yes. I feel trying to lock in your sexuality at any time before your mid 20s is not the best idea, and that you should let yourself continue to evolve and fluctuate. Not everyone will, but encouraging an open mind is always for the best.

Since when did labeling require one to "lock in" sexuality? That concept makes no sense anyways: you don't choose your sexuality and you can't make "lock [it] in" in any meaningful way anyways.

More importantly, it's telling that this discussion always comes up about gay and bisexual young teenagers and not straight ones. Everyone seems happily willing to accept that young teens can be attracted to girls, yet this is somehow a question with LGBT teens.

That's why I said that some of them are sure of their sexuality. I'm not trying to bash anyones sexuality or perspective of their life. I just wanted to see who thought what.

Fair enough.

And now that I think about it, I never thought of "12 and 13 year olds who self-identify as straight." I always just thought that (no matter how bad it may seem to anybody [and again, I'm not trying to bash anyone]), young kids were straight until they thought otherwise. But I guess it could go any way.

Yeah, that's what I find interesting about this. I used to just think that way too, like you did. But the idea doesn't really make sense. We know that for the vast majority of people that orientation emerges inherently; the fact that our culture is dominantly straight and also therefore portrays mostly such people creates the ideal that everyone is straight until proven otherwise. But they're not. No reason they can't start out as gay or bisexual, and therefore if you accept that's possible it should be possible at the same time as heterosexuality emerges (which for most people is at 12 or potentially even before).

[joeyjorulz]

clishe...I always knew I was gay (true for me)
My 1st experience @ 11 her 13
My 2nd @ 14 her 14
I knew then I was a lesbian and remain so.