HOW TO KNOW YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND FEEL GOOD WITH IT?

What is my sexual orientation? How to feel good with? How do you tell your parents and loved ones about your sexual orientation? Sexual orientation is a delicate subject that can be difficult to understand, especially at a young age. This red thread that guides our attraction is an essential part of our identity and our being, and this sexual attraction can sometimes be misunderstood, badly experienced or stigmatized. However, sexual orientation is above all a palette of emotions that transcend gender barriers and that emerges in all possible colors and shades. And you are going to have to fully assume it to love yourself as naturally as possible. How to discover the thread of his attraction and embrace it with serenity?

YESforLOV deciphers the question today and gives you lots of advice to celebrate love regardless of your gender, your identity and your sexuality.

HOW TO DEFINE SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

Sexual orientation is a notion that encompasses all forms of sexual desire and attraction , as well as all the fantasies that are linked to it. It is an integral part of a person's identity and can influence the way they perceive themselves and interact with the world around them. Sexual orientation can vary in intensity and expression over the course of a person's lifetime.

It is important to emphasize that sexual orientation should not be confused with gender identity , which describes how a person perceives and expresses themselves in relation to the male or female gender categories. Sexual orientation and gender identity are two distinct aspects of a person's identity.

We all know the terms heterosexuality , homosexuality and bisexuality , and yet there are many others ! This is the case of pansexuality , which takes into account the spectrum of gender. To be pansexual is to be attracted to people without any consideration for their gender : male, female, non-binary or genderfluid, they don't care. There is also asexuality : not feeling any sexual desire towards anyone. (Be careful not to confuse it with aromantism which designates the absence of amorous feeling) . There would be in all and on account about fifteen possible sexual orientations . As you will have understood, sexual orientation is a big playground where vast options are available to you, even if our society is steeped in a heteronormative norm, where heterosexuality is considered the norm. and standard.

This overriding view can make it difficult for people who don't identify with it to feel accepted and encouraged to explore their own sexual orientation . Of course, it's okay to be heterosexual, but it can be more complex to have role models to identify with for people who don't conform to that norm.

In this article, what we want to emphasize is that everyone can find their place , whatever their desires and preferences. It is possible for each of us to navigate the turbulent waters of sexual orientation in order to find our own path and embrace our authenticity .

HOW TO KNOW YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

From an early age, we all start from the principle that we are straight: we ask little girls if they have a lover, and little boys if they have a lover. Couples in cartoons follow the classic pattern : one man, one woman, and they lived happily ever after and had many children . It's not easy to break away from all this when we've been fed up with heteronormativity . If we find ourselves in there, fine, but if this is not the case, we must ask ourselves the right questions and dig deeper.

Discovering one's sexuality is a personal and individual journey . We advise you to search within yourself for the experiences that can help to better understand your sexual desires and preferences. Often, this process begins by asking questions about one's feelings, fantasies and erotic imagination: it is about exploring what arouses excitement and curiosity , examining the moments in one's life when the one felt a sexual or emotional connection. This can include childhood memories, past and present sexual experiences, and erotic fantasies.

Talk about it around you , you are surely not the only one in your entourage to ask yourself questions. Testimonies and exchanges can help to know where to place oneself on the spectrum of sexuality. If you do not have a trusted network in your entourage, do not panic: a plethora of information is available in LBGT associations , on their websites or even in their premises in Lyon , Paris , and soon Marseille (exhaustive list information centershere ). These centers are dedicated to reception , mutual aid, but also the fight against discrimination , prevention and culture: you will certainly find your happiness there. If you don't feel like talking about it yet and directing you directly to people who could refer you, you can simply consult LGBTQI+ Instagram accounts that highlight all sexual orientations and identities by offering testimonials and information. . We recommend @lgbtq (English-speaking) or even @lecoindeslgbt , flagship account for LGBT in France. If you're not an Instagram aficionado, know that you can always find inspiration on Netflix: the series Sex Education tackles many themes related to sexuality while being an inclusive, comedic and moving series.

It is important to remember that discovering your sexuality is an ongoing process . Preferences and desires can evolve and change throughout life. The key is to listen to yourself , respect your boundaries , and give yourself permission to explore your sexuality safely and with mutual consent.

HOW TO FEEL GOOD WITH YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

Feeling good about your sexual orientation can involve different approaches .

Some people choose to deviate from social conventions and live their lives according to their own truth , regardless of the prejudices of others. Other people prefer to seek out communities or groups that share their orientations , in order to feel understood and supported. In any case, it is important to recognize that each person has the right to live his life as he wishes and that it is essential to respect oneself.

Self-confidence is also a key factor in feeling good about your sexual orientation. It is important to tell yourself that you feel good about yourself and that you are proud of who you are. By learning to accept and love yourself as you are, it is easier to deal with other people's opinions and prejudices. When questioning your sexual orientation, having role models to identify with is crucial. Indeed, the lack of representation and visibility of certain sexual orientations can lead to confusion, isolation and self-misunderstanding. Having role models can therefore help to understand that one is not alone, to ask questions and that one can be proud of one's identity. It can also help you feel more comfortable with your direction and more open to speaking up . The models can be real people around us, public figures or fictional characters from books, films or television series. They show us that all sexual orientations are valid and that it is possible to be happy and fulfilled, regardless of your sexual preferences.

Some LGBTQ celebrities: Eliott Page (transgender and bisexual) Kristen Stewart (bisexual) Sam Smith (genderfluid and pansexual), Ruby Rose (lesbian), Angèle (bisexual), Kiddy Smile (gay).

To end this article in the festivities, we invite you to celebrate all together on May 17 , the INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA with Lady Purple and her immersion in the world of a Drag Queen available here .

Sexual orientation is an essential part of our being. You have to know how to question yourself, let yourself be carried away by your feelings, without shame or fear of judgment. Finding your way can sometimes seem difficult, but existence is full of inspiring people and benevolent organizations that will guide souls in search of identity. Because there are no standards in love, none, you have understood it! Everyone can, in their own way, flourish, vibrate, and love.