Accepting Sexuality
As well as accepting your own sexuality, it is important that you accept other people's sexuality which is as valid and important as your own. People have diverse sexual identities and you may know people who are heterosexual, gay, lesbian and bisexual.
Although more people are coming out as gay, lesbian and bisexual in their teenage years, very often people do not come out until they are older. Because of this you most likely know people who are gay who just haven't told you. They may feel that they can't tell you because they fear a bad reaction. This fear is well founded as homophobic bullying is widespread. We all have a part to play in ensuring that such bullying is not tolerated and that everyone is respected.
It's important that you show that you are open and positive to everyone's identity and that you don't:
- Tease people by saying that they are gay, this can be really hurtful and cause people to withdraw into themselves.
- Be mean to people who have come out as lesbian, gay or bisexual. It is very brave of them to do so and they should be supported and treated with the same respect as everyone else.
If you are gay, lesbian or bisexual, check out the BeLonG To Youth Services website.
