How to find out if my friend is gay
Understanding the Situation
Sexual orientation is a personal matter, and unless your friend explicitly tells you, you can never be 100% sure. However, if you’re wondering whether your friend might be gay, either because you suspect they’re struggling with their identity or you think they might have feelings for you, it’s important to approach the topic with sensitivity and respect.
Here are some common signs that might indicate your friend is gay and how to navigate the situation without making assumptions or making them uncomfortable.
1. They Shun Talking About Their Value Life
If your friend dodges conversations about crushes or relationships but is cozy talking about every other aspect of their existence, it might be because they’re not ready to discuss their sexual orientation.
Examples:
- They change the subject when someone asks about their dating life.
- They rarely bring up any romantic interests.
- They feel uncomfortable when discussing relationships with the opposite gender.
This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re gay, some people are just private, but if combined with other signs, it might be a clue.
2. They Show a Strong Interest in Queer Topics
by Fred Penzel, PhD
This article was initially published in the Winter 2007 edition of the OCD Newsletter.
OCD, as we know, is largely about experiencing drastic and unrelenting disbelieve. It can result in you to challenge even the most basic things about yourself – even your sexual orientation. A 1998 analyze published in the Journal of Sex Research found that among a collective of 171 college students, 84% reported the occurrence of sexual intrusive thoughts (Byers, et al. 1998). In request to have doubts about one’s sexual identity, a sufferer need not ever have had a homo- or heterosexual experience, or any type of sexual experience at all. I have observed this symptom in young children, adolescents, and adults as adv. Interestingly Swedo, et al., 1989, set up that approximately 4% of children with OCD experience obsessions concerned with forbidden aggressive or perverse sexual thoughts.
Although doubts about one’s control sexual identity might seem pretty straightforward as a symptom, there are actually a number of variations. The most obvious form is where a sufferer experiences the consideration that they might be of a different sexual orientation than they formerly believed. If the su
How Do I Help My Same-sex attracted Friend?
by D’Ann Davis
“How do I help my gay friend?” This is a question we catch constantly in the Living Expect office, when out speaking at events, or from friends and church members from around the world. Twenty years ago scant Christians asked this question, for few knew any same gender attracted people, or if they did know them, they were ignorant to their friend’s struggles. Today almost everyone knows of someone who identifies as homosexual or deals with a measure of same gender attractions. Even if a Christian finds himself in a season of being where he does not personally know of a same gender attracted (SGA) person in his sphere of influence, this interrogate is of utmost importance in light of the change of our culture and the growing willingness of Christians dealing with SGA to openly talk about their issues. So how does one help a gay-identified confidant or SGA friend?
The first response I typically give to this question is actually another question. “Does your friend know Jesus?” This is a vital first question any believer must tackle before attempting to help a friend deal with her sexual attractions. This is because there are two different ro
When Your Best Comrade Tells You He's Gay
Gay people are engaged in an ongoing struggle to have their rights recognized and regarded. As a linear person talking primarily to other straights. I hope to support all who are oppressed because of their sexual orientation. The emphasis on gay men as opposed to lesbians is only a reflection of my personal knowledge.
A year ago, no one I knew was openly queer . My contact with homosexuality until then was probably quite standard. When I was seven, my mother talked to me about people called "fairies." She warned me to watch out for them, explaining that their existence was a pity for them and a nuisance for the rest of us. From then on, the issue was absent from conversation at home, except when something about Anita Bryant came on the news. We all regarded Anita as somewhat off the wall, but not out of any deeply felt views on homosexuality. At educational facility, the words "gay" and "fag" were used only as insults to students so awkward or unpopular that the term "wimp" would not do. Homosexuality was spotlighted only once: when the women's studies class invited a womxn loving womxn to speak and half the parents called up to complain.
These
by Fred Penzel, PhD
This article was initially published in the Winter 2007 edition of the OCD Newsletter.
OCD, as we know, is largely about experiencing drastic and unrelenting disbelieve. It can result in you to challenge even the most basic things about yourself – even your sexual orientation. A 1998 analyze published in the Journal of Sex Research found that among a collective of 171 college students, 84% reported the occurrence of sexual intrusive thoughts (Byers, et al. 1998). In request to have doubts about one’s sexual identity, a sufferer need not ever have had a homo- or heterosexual experience, or any type of sexual experience at all. I have observed this symptom in young children, adolescents, and adults as adv. Interestingly Swedo, et al., 1989, set up that approximately 4% of children with OCD experience obsessions concerned with forbidden aggressive or perverse sexual thoughts.
Although doubts about one’s control sexual identity might seem pretty straightforward as a symptom, there are actually a number of variations. The most obvious form is where a sufferer experiences the consideration that they might be of a different sexual orientation than they formerly believed. If the su
How Do I Help My Same-sex attracted Friend?
by D’Ann Davis
“How do I help my gay friend?” This is a question we catch constantly in the Living Expect office, when out speaking at events, or from friends and church members from around the world. Twenty years ago scant Christians asked this question, for few knew any same gender attracted people, or if they did know them, they were ignorant to their friend’s struggles. Today almost everyone knows of someone who identifies as homosexual or deals with a measure of same gender attractions. Even if a Christian finds himself in a season of being where he does not personally know of a same gender attracted (SGA) person in his sphere of influence, this interrogate is of utmost importance in light of the change of our culture and the growing willingness of Christians dealing with SGA to openly talk about their issues. So how does one help a gay-identified confidant or SGA friend?
The first response I typically give to this question is actually another question. “Does your friend know Jesus?” This is a vital first question any believer must tackle before attempting to help a friend deal with her sexual attractions. This is because there are two different ro
When Your Best Comrade Tells You He's Gay
Gay people are engaged in an ongoing struggle to have their rights recognized and regarded. As a linear person talking primarily to other straights. I hope to support all who are oppressed because of their sexual orientation. The emphasis on gay men as opposed to lesbians is only a reflection of my personal knowledge.
A year ago, no one I knew was openly queer . My contact with homosexuality until then was probably quite standard. When I was seven, my mother talked to me about people called "fairies." She warned me to watch out for them, explaining that their existence was a pity for them and a nuisance for the rest of us. From then on, the issue was absent from conversation at home, except when something about Anita Bryant came on the news. We all regarded Anita as somewhat off the wall, but not out of any deeply felt views on homosexuality. At educational facility, the words "gay" and "fag" were used only as insults to students so awkward or unpopular that the term "wimp" would not do. Homosexuality was spotlighted only once: when the women's studies class invited a womxn loving womxn to speak and half the parents called up to complain.
These