To be honest, I always thought that I was straight. I had some gay friends and was just fine with their sexuality, but didn't ever really consider that I might be like them. Looking back I can see how I might have had some crushes on women, but I also had crushes on guys.

When I went to college I was 17 and had never had a boyfriend. During my freshman year I had this one night fling with a guy that I didn't enjoy at all. Toward the end of my freshman year I started to get to know one of my friends better. We went on our spring break vacation together with two other friends, and I started to feel differently toward her. It took about a week for me to realize that I had a crush on her. It was different, but I was never really scared or disgusted with my feelings, however I had no idea what to do about it. I told a few of my close friends about it and asked them what I should do. After a few months I decided to act on my feelings and thankfully this woman felt the same attraction to me. Unfortunately it was the end of the semester and we had to spend the whole summer apart. We talked every day, and eventually my parents sort of caught on.

I never actually had to come out to my parents. They pulled me out in a confrontation. My mom put my dad up to asking me what my relationship with my girlfriend was, and I chose to tell them that we were dating. I had no idea how they would react to this news. I hoped that since they were kind, rational people that they would be fine with it. However my mother frowned at me a lot and gave me disapproving looks whenever the subject of my girlfriend was mentioned. I was very angry and hurt for awhile. I didn't understand why my parents couldn't be happy that I had found someone so wonderful.

The summer ended and I went back to school. I was kind of out there, some people knew, but I'm pretty sure not many people cared. I go to a music conservatory, so there are plenty of gay people. I think my parents are slowly getting used to the idea that I'm in love with a woman. We've been dating for over a year and she's not going away anytime soon. I just try to remember to be patient with them and know that they love me whether or not they approve of who I love.