Interesting Question ...

[teen.jpg]

As the title states, I have a question I would like to ask all of you...

So, when a teenager starts to feel attracted to the same sex, you would define them as "curious", right? So what happens when this person decides to label themselves as "gay" or "bi" or any other label. Would you agree with their label of themselves?

My real question is, what do you define as the difference between "curious" and "gay"/"bi"/"other"? If you say this attraction is just a phase and it will pass, then are you saying people who defined themselves as "gay" or "bi" will somehow outgrow it?

Excuse me if I'm overlooking details, but I've been curious to this.

[Noirtier]

I think it lies in who the person is attracted to. In my mind, if one is only attracted to the same sex and not attracted to the opposite sex at all, it's very fair for them to label themselves as gay, and to assume that it's no longer curiosity, for that would imply something that would pass and that they would still be attracted to the same sex. Bisexual is a bit different, as it still includes the attraction to the opposite sex, but I think that once one discovers, on their own, that they are not only physically attracted to the same sex as well as the opposite sex--which hormones can bring about hence "curiosity"--but when they discover that they also have an emotional attraction to both sexes, it is at that point that I think someone can identify themselves as bisexual. Curious is just a term to say that, well, someone is open to it and wonders what it is like to be with the same sex, and admits that they could be bi or gay, but they don't know yet. I think it's all just a part of the progression of figuring yourself out.

[deanbrodi]

13 is much too early to force yourself into a category called "gay". Your brain is going thru the biggest changes it will ever go thru. That's puberty for ya. Many young teen boys want to masturbate another boy, or do other stuff, to see how it feels for them. By their late teens though, most of them will settle on being interested in girls only.
So: "gay" means that somebody is only interested in their own sex, & have been like that for a few years already; "curious" means they haven't made up their mind yet, & are still trying out both girls & boys; "bi" means that they are stuck with being happy with a boy or a girl.

[Troy35216]

without putting any label on myself i have known since 2nd grade what i was and who i liked and it has never changed. there were a couple times when I had a temporary feeling for something else, but it was only temporary. in the end it has never changed from what I knew when I was 7 years old. i can only speak for myself tho. i know everyone is different. to answer your question, if someone says "i am straight" or "i am gay" then I figure they know what they're talking about so I accept it. just like when they say "I am curious" or "i got no clue" i believe that, too. idk if that is any help or not. I'm not very good at answering these things

[Lost in the Echo]

If it is clear to someone, even during puberty with hormones raging, if it's clear to someone they're attracted to the same gender, then yes, they're gay/bi.
Someone is curious, if they're not sure what orientation they are, usually this happens during puberty, because that person's hormones are raging.

So yeah, whenever it's clear to that person that they know what they like, then that's when they can label themselves.
But really, labels aren't needed, it's just a label society puts on you, don't stress over it.
Just live your life, don't pay attention to labels, they mean nothing.

[Pierce]

In a nut shell I believe curiosity turns into homosexual feelings when you start to have extreme emotional feelings for a person of the same sex and it is not just physical attraction anymore. Thinking someone is hot and imagining yourself "being"
with hem or just how they look naked is being curious. Seeing yourself spending your life or dating this person is a homosexual feeling. That's my opinion

[teen.jpg]

Thank you for the answers, as theres been some confusion.