It seems that my experience is quite common- it was a really slow process from first conciously thinking that I liked guys (about age 13/14), to finally fully accepting the fact that I'm gay (a few months before I turned 17). In between, I pretended to everyone I was straight, and also to myself for a while. I wouldn't admit that my feelings were there. Then I progressed (in my mind) to believing I was bi (which was so untrue cos girls have never really done anything for me in that way). Somehow I thought that would make my feelings more acceptable, cos I'd like girls too, and at the age of 14/15, "gay" is a widespread term of abuse, related to anything remotely negative. 
 
I used to pretend to myself I was attracted to girls, but I would always focus on those that were really great friends, that I got along with fantastically, and pretend it was attraction. Which it wasn't. 
 
It was only sort of the beginning of this year that I accepted fully that I'm gay, and it was February 1st (I'll never forget the date lol) that I first came out to a (female) friend. Since then I have progressed to telling my whole circle of friends, and now some friends who aren't as close- and all reactions have been positive! So I'm really lucky in that way, and the fact is that I talk about it with my friends all the time now, and we just accept it as normal, that I now sometimes forget that not everyone is gay! Quite a turn-around lol... Now I just have to deal with my parents...

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