hormones? | Ask Trevor

Question:

I’m a 14 year old girl. I do understand that most teens go through sexual issues, and start to have feelings for people of the same gender. I’m pretty sure I’m a lesbian, I just want to know how I know for sure. So my question is, how do I know if I really do like girls or if it is just hormones?

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Answer:

Thank you for reaching out to The Trevor Project with your concern about your sexual feelings. It is natural for you to have questions about what being attracted to someone of the same gender means. The Trevor Project is here to support you. You can always feel free to ask questions or discuss any concerns on Ask Trevor or to call the Trevor Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR. The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In trying to understand your sexuality, it might be helpful to remember that sexual orientation involves emotional, romantic, and physical attraction to people of the same gender (gay or lesbian), the opposite gender (heterosexual), or both (bisexual). So it may help to think about who you have crushes on or who you fantasize about when trying to understand your sexual orientation.

For more information about what it means to be a lesbian you can visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=730&Itemid=177, where you’ll find the brochure ”I Think I Might Be Lesbian…Now What Do I Do?” “PFLAG’s (Parents, Families & Friends Of Lesbians & Gays) ‘Be Yourself: Questions for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth’ at http://www.pflag.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Be_Yourself_TT.pdf can be of further help as you try to understand your sexual orientation. Remember that there’s no rush to figure this out. Another place where you can get help and support is TrevorSpace at www.trevorspace.org. It’s the Trevor Project’s safe, online social networking site for LGBTQ young people ages 13 to 24, and their friends and allies. It’s a great supportive community where you can connect with others who might have had or are having the same questions that you’re having about your sexuality.

Trevor Staff