Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Straight People Explain The Moment They Knew They Weren't Gay

Make us preferred on Google

There's this pervasive idea in a lot of people's minds that being straight is just the "default" sexual preference. That isn't the case, though.

We often hear about the moment people realized they were gay, but we almost never talk about people who have those moments of realization that they're straight.


So let's talk about it.

Straight people of Reddit, when did you know you weren't gay?

So ... you know how you don't know if you like a new food until you try it? A few of these responses involve people who had their moment of realization while in the middle of a "taste test" if you will. So This probably isn't the best article for young readers or anyone who might be sensitive to sexual subject matter.

Victoria's Mail-Order Brides

Giphy

When I was SUPER young I used to take (and sometimes hide) my mom's Victoria's Secret catalogues. I remember an intense feeling while looking at the models in lingerie. It wasn't a horny feeling (being so young) but it was exciting, fun and it had a magnetic feeling inside me to look at them.

Since I didn't even know what sex is, I figured that feeling was what marriage was. LMFAO So I'd be flipping pages and I'd be like - "Hmm.... I would marry... her.... WOW I really want to marry her... and marry her... mmm I wouldn't marry this one..."

I love these type of questions that bring back things you never think about. Looking back at this foggy memory I can actually remember the specific "perfumey" smell the magazines had.

- foxttrot

That Was That

When I first learned about the concept of being gay. I think I was like 8-9.

I randomly asked my mom "How do you know if you're gay?" and she said "You would just have a feeling and you'd know."

I thought about if I've ever felt gay and I didn't, so that was that.

- MNYC19-2000

Third Time Was Not A Charm

I was joking around with one of my friends and we (my friends and I) asked him how he knew he wasn't gay.

He told us he tried it 3 times and still hated it. He told us the long story about how he hooked up with three dudes and then realized he hated it.

So many laughs...

- KellynHeller

Instinct

Boobs. I realized I am a straight male when I couldn't stop myself from looking at them at the beach. Of course I would also look at jacked dudes and think "Wow, I want to look like this in the future" but it wasn't the same as looking at women.

I would look at muscular men wondering what I would look like as an adult consciously. Looking at boobs felt more like an instinct I couldn't control all that much back at age 12.

- kitho04

Flash Forward

I thought I might be bi. Flash forward to hooking up with hottest chick I'd ever seen and was like "nah... This ain't it." Hell of a time to realize you're actually straight.

- DasKatzechen

Hair 

When a girl strokes my back or plays with my hair it's very relaxing, I'm like a cat, I am so happy and comfortable and I'll go to sleep. If a guy strokes me or plays with my hair I'm tense - but in a good way, and really excited and flustered and I want to touch him all over.

- diycakedisaster

THIS. 100%. My hair was long in middle school, and the people sitting behind me in class always wanted to play with it - it was a thing I guess. When my girl friend did it, it felt nice. But when the boy did it, I thought he did it so much better....

- greenduffel

People Describe The Worst Adult Tantrum They've Ever Witnessed | George Takei’s Oh Myyy

That Didn't Go How Mom Intended

Giphy

I was raised in a "being gay is a choice" type of house. My mom was giving me a speech about how she didn't care if I "brought home a black girl, a Chinese girl, whatever, just as long I dated a girl." Basically an anti-gay talk.

I was confused about this, and thought to myself, "Why would I date a guy? I'm attracted to girls. Dating a guy sounds nasty. If I had to date a guy who would I date? Best friend? Ew, no. Preppy guy? Ew, no. What's-his-name that is out as gay? Ew, no. There's no guy I can even think of that I'd want to be romantically involved with, and even if there was, I'd really have to force myself to do so... wait ... wait a minute... Holy sht, being gay isn't a choice! I couldn't choose it even if I tried!"

- OhWhatsHisName

No Emotional Connection

I'm a female and I know that so far it is emotionally impossible for me to fall in love with a girl... I could have sex with a girl but definitely would not be interested in pursuing/dating a girl because there isn't that spark/desire I have with men.

I've questioned my sexuality before just to be sure (lol) but I know that the romantic bond I have with men is not possible for me to have with women. I could sleep with a girl but definitely would not be down to date or even flirt with a girl. It would feel very forced and uncomfortable for me.

- yllilrose

A High School Rumor

Honestly? Though I had been reading classic romance novels for a couple years nothing solidified me being straight more the someone in high school starting the rumor I was gay and it taking over the entire school (for 4 years!). So much so I had gym teachers pull me aside to ask if I needed to dress alone so I wouldn't lust after the other girls. It was then I discovered that not only was I not gay but even the idea of sexually touching a girl is a complete turn off for me. I'm not a touchy person to begin with but the mere thought a even having a threesome with another woman involved is like a cold bucket of ice water to my libido.

- WifeofTech

No Sense Of Scale

I can't even tell how attractive a man is. I can tell the difference between good looking and not good looking but I have no idea of where they sit on the scale. So many times I've been out with friends and they're all "oh my god he's so hot" when to me he looks about the same as most of the other dudes in the area.

- WoodyChuck

Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or ":zipper_mouth_face:" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk to him about it.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Aubrey Plaza
Udo Salters/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Aubrey Plaza Just Showed Off Her Huge Baby Bump As Her Due Date Nears—And Her Expression Says It All

Agatha All Along star Aubrey Plaza revealed back in April that she was expecting her first child, and now, she's inching up on her due date with a very pronounced baby bump.

In a recent Instagram story, she stood in front of a full-length mirror and took a selfie. She'd pulled her shirt up over her belly and stood sideways, showing just how defined her baby bump has become.

Keep ReadingShow less
Katy Perry
Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

'Appalled' Katy Perry Blasts White House After They Use 'Firework' In Video Of Military Strikes

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry's 2010 hit song "Firework"—written by Perry, Ester Dean, Sandy Wilhelm, and production duo Stargate—is billed as an anthem of self-empowerment and recognition of inner worth. The lyrics encouraged people feeling lost, weak, or unloved to realize they had a unique spark and power to shine like a firework.

Perry said the song was her favorite from her "Teenage Dream" album. With lyrics like "Cause baby, you're a firework, Come on, show 'em what you're worth" the song's "fantastic message" would become "an anthem that's not cheesy."

Keep ReadingShow less
Quinn Brown (left) discovered a Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket worn by Wilt Chamberlain (right) at a Portland Goodwill.
KOIN6/YouTube; Martin Mills/Getty Images

An Oregon Teen Found A Wilt Chamberlain Warmup Jacket At A Goodwill For $3—And It Just Sold For A Massive Price

Every thrift shopper dreams of uncovering hidden treasure, but few finds come close to this. An Oregon teenager paid just $3 for what turned out to be a Los Angeles Lakers warm-up jacket worn by NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. The jacket recently sold at Sotheby's for $89,600.

That unbelievable find started with a routine trip to a Portland Goodwill in January. Nineteen-year-old Quinn Brown spotted a jacket with what appeared to be Los Angeles Lakers colors after someone tossed it into a bargain bin. The vintage clothing reseller, who had been flipping finds online for about three years, decided it was worth taking home.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tracee Ellis Ross on the "Baby This Is Keke Palmer" podcast
Baby, This is Keke Palmer/YouTube

Tracee Ellis Ross Shared Her Blunt Response To People Asking Why She Doesn't Have Kids—And Fans Are Applauding

After eight seasons of the hit ABC comedy series Black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross has easily joined the ranks of the all-time best TV mothers with her portrayal of Dr. Rainbow Johnson.

Rainbow, or "Bow," memorably balanced her prolific career as an anesthesiologist with raising her four (eventually five) children, while also dealing with her sneaker-loving advertising executive husband Dre, as well as her opinionated in-laws.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jennifer Garner
Netflix

Jennifer Garner Reveals 'Totally Ludicrous' Lengths Paparazzi Go To While Hounding Her Family In Eye-Opening Video

Actor Jennifer Garner has opened up about just how disturbing it can be to be hounded by paparazzi—not just for her and her family but for everyone around them.

During a recent appearance on the Shut Up Evan podcast, the Alias star described just how far the paps have been willing to go to get photos of her and her kids with ex Ben Affleck.

Keep ReadingShow less