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Self-Discovery Didn’t Go As Expected

11.19.17
Self-Discovery Didn’t Go As Expected
Many people see their sexual orientation as a huge part of who they are. But for me, my identity isn’t really about who I’m attracted to. I remember the day I joined my school's’ Gay Straight Alliance. I was 14. Completely unexperienced, and trying to figure out what I was. Gay, straight, or bi? The other kids tossed around a bunch of labels: agender, pansexual, androsexual, and non-binary--to name a few. The community seemed completely focused on what someone was, not who someone was. I left the meeting feeling more confused than when I walked in. After a while, I realized I was forcing myself into an environment that didn’t fit. Aside from not being straight, I didn’t have anything in common with the people in my GSA. Other things I like such as politics, writing and science fiction, make up the bulk of who I am. Even my mild makeup addiction is a more important piece of me than my sexual orientation. I did learn a lot about myself in GSA -- not just my sexual orientation but the fact that I prefer to bond with people over shared interests.
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