Teenager – Am I Gay?

We address the overall question of “Am I gay,” elsewhere. Here we focus specifically upon adolescents.

More than any other age group, adolescents (teenagers) want reassurance about their sexual orientation. With the newly acquired emotions brought on by raging hormones, teens feel a great urgency in determining all aspects of their self-identity.

Teens And Sexual Arousal

Particularly teenaged boys are sexually aroused easily. Remembering that arousal is a relatively new phenomenon in their lives, we need to recognize that easy arousal is especially confusing. Lot’s of people and situations that would not arouse sexual thoughts in them later in life may well stimulate pure lust in young adolescents.

Same-Sex and Opposite Sex Experimentation Among Teenagers

Many teens engage in sexual experimentation during this phase. This experimentation is not done so much in the interest of scientific inquiry as it is to satisfy basic urges as quickly as possible. The sex of the person who provides the sexual satisfaction is often not as important as the availability and willingness of the partner.

Sexual Identity Confusion In Adolescence

Some teenagers assume that the sex of their partner in their first (or first few) experiences is an indication of their sexual orientation. That is not necessarily the case. (Of course, some teens do in fact know their sexual identity almost immediately upon hitting puberty.)

Furthermore, adolescence is a period during which one is just beginning to learn techniques of self-control. The full set of inhibitions that most adults have is still under construction in a 13 year old (or 18 year old) male.

Who Are Those Teens Who Wonder If They Are Gay

Some who ask, “Am I gay?” during their teenage years just want reassurance that one incident with another boy or a dream that included homosexual acts does not indicate that they are gay. Social discrimination against people of minority sexual identities scares them, and they want someone to tell them what they already suspect to be the case–that they are straight.

Others who ask know that they are gay, but they are reluctant to accept their identity because society, parents or their homophobic church tell them that being gay means being inferior.

Still others are genuinely confused and will have to wait until they have more information about themselves and a deeper understanding of their sexuality before they know who they are–and to whom they are attracted–sexually.

Related Articles

Am I Gay?  Adults – Am I Gay?  Self-Test For Gay Orientation

Examples Of Teens’ Questions

H A writes:

Am i gay, straight or bi by doin this?? and will girls be put off me?

Am I Gay? Please I’m so confused..?

Tests Mow wonders:

Am i gay????????????????