A few weeks ago, a girl in my class asked me to date another guy because someone else had told her that I was gay. After she heard this, she subsequently asked other students about the rumor because she thought it would “awkward” to ask me about my sexuality. I wasn’t annoyed that she thought I was gay, but I was upset that she spread gossip about me without first confirming that it was true.

However, this presented an interesting topic. Plenty of people believe that someone they know is gay, but don’t feel brave enough to ask. It is a lot less awkward to simply ask someone if they are gay, lesbian or transgender than to assume and potentially deal with the repercussions. Trust me, it is a lot more awkward to have to deal with that situation than to ask someone about their sexuality.

Additionally, that sexuality is not so easily noticed or defined. Sexuality DOES NOT define who a person is, which means that not all gay people like shopping and rainbows and “chick flicks”. Being gay means that males is attracted to males. Same with lesbians-they are simply females who like females, nothing more or less.

Being gay also attracts both positive and negative attention. Many people accept others when they come out, because they are still the same person and the only difference is who they want to date. However, there are those who believe that these sexualities are wrong. These people should be avoided, but in high school it is impossible to avoid these sorts of people. This could be a leading factor in staying in the closet, because if friends aren’t accepting, life could be hard. It is simply ridiculous that people can’t be who they are.

Why is it that heterosexuality is normal? Children are born into sexualities, just like race, hair color, eye color and height. When a child is born, there should be no pressure on the child to be something they are not, and they should instead be encouraged to be who they are. If that were their way of life, then no one would care if someone was gay or lesbian or transsexual. It would be just like being another race, accepted and part of the world.

Being gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual is not a curse, mental illness, phase or mistake. Sometimes people aren’t aware of what they are, and sometimes what they are changes. Some people may be confident in their sexuality, and others may be confused. So next time you want to ask someone about their sexuality, take their answer for the truth, because they know better than you do…even if they don’t truly know it themselves. When they feel comfortable they will come out…or they won’t because they are straight.