this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
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I'm pretty sure im bi and have identified as bi but am starting to question if im actually bi. Not really sure how I can prove that I'm actually bi to myself

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[–] Netsettler2k@lemmy.one 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I identified as bi in high school. By college I was engaged to another woman, and decided to call myself a lesbian, because my assumption was that I would spend the rest of my life in a lesbian relationship. Once we broke up, I just comfortably dropped any specific label. I guess I’m bi by definition. My current live-in boyfriend is also bi. Neither of us really care to define ourselves anymore. We’re with each other as a straight couple, so to the world we’re straight. Our friends and family already know our dating history before we got together, and are supportive no matter how we identify.

I guess as I’ve gotten older, I’ve cared less about labels. Date who you want, love who you love, and be kind to yourself. If your label is important to you, you have a right to vocalize it and embrace it. But don’t feel like you have to paint yourself into a corner. To quote the old MySpace adage: labels are for soup cans <3

[–] Veraticus@lib.lgbt 5 points 1 year ago
[–] Veraticus@lib.lgbt 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Prove it in like what sense? It’s your sexuality, not a mathematical formula… fortunately (unfortunately?) you’ll constantly discover new things about it.

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not sure if I'm really attracted to guys. It could just be connected to the fact I don't let myself watch guy porn. That's probably it tbh

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What do you mean with "you don't let yourself watch" it? You don't enjoy watching it, or is it something else?

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A boundary I made for myself. Basically 3 weeks ago my bf went mia. I fell back into my porn addiction but decided I wouldn't let myself look at guy stuff. It was 20 days of constant sadness and while things got slightly better since last weekend he still hasn't come back.

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

~~That was not what I was expecting.~~
Hope things go well.
In these circumstances I don't have much advice, but as @Netsettler2k@lemmy.one said, don't worry too much about lables
good luck

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry I dumped all my problems on you

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's no problem, don't be sorry. I just don't have good advice to give on such topics. On such serious topics my advice might be more harmful than helpful

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

At least things are getting better. Before last weekend I'd spend my days crying in my room. It feels wrong that I'm distracting myself but at least I'm not as perpetually sad now

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's nice. Don't be too harsh on yourself

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just feel like I'm not good enough. Is it wrong to look at that stuff while in a relationship? I don't want to hurt him

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Have you two ever discussed mastubation and porn? I am very much not qualified to talk about relationships. My thoughts about it would be that there is nothing to be hurt by and that it's normal to have sexual disires

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Regarding porn Yes we have but before we made things offical. I should put more effort into quitting tho

As for mastrubation we would both do it together. Its a long distance thing so that's what we would do.

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you think it's too unhealthy try to find other things to do instead. You might wanna do that anyway. Coping is healthy to a degree, but if you can't bear it, I would recommend talking to someone who's a professional or has bright views on things. ~~I don't ever do that either, but it really helps~~

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have been speaking to a professional and things are slightly better now. Thank you for listening

[–] narshee@iusearchlinux.fyi 1 points 1 year ago

Good to hear you are working on getting better

[–] FRACTRANS 6 points 1 year ago

I started questioning my sexuality again after going through gender fuckery

I tend to ascribe to the idea that you should go with whatever label you feel most comfortable with

[–] azureeight 5 points 1 year ago

What helped for me is I see labels as explaining to people outside my body in the simplest terms if we COULD be compatible in theory.

So, for example, I identify as pansexual. If someone asks me why, it's because I have had multiple partners change gender presentation and it did not change our relationship. And i feel that's helpful to know if someone is dating me.

If we get in the weeds, I can't tell you what i am sexually attracted to in the abstract. I don't have internal motivation that way. I grow to want to be sexual with a specific person over time, so sometimes I have even used demi and pan.

But as for me and inside, i just know i feel sexual when i do toward who i do. I know I have changed over the years too (at one point I would have said I was straight, can you imagine?) And sexually and gender are spectrums anyway.

I hope this search isnt causing you too much destress. Labels are supposed to be comfortable if we take them on. You don't HAVE to label anything at all. I usually just go by queer because it's shorter. I hope you feel comfortable with yourself and soon don't feel like you have to prove anything to anyone. 💙

[–] alex 4 points 1 year ago

The bi-cycle is a meme for a reason: it's true for many of us! There's really no way to prove it, "bi" is the default state of "unless proven otherwise I can like people of any gender" and anything other than that state should be the thing that's proven, imo :)

[–] schreiblehrling 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It’s not as binary like a light switch, this or that, A or B. It’s all fluid. For example, I thought I was gay at first, for some years, but didn’t dare to act or think more in that direction. Then I started to come out to myself, explore a bit and realized I might be bi. I munched on that thought and feelings a bit and later found out that I was gay. More or less, at least.

EDIT: Omg sorry for posting 3 times the same comment, my app crashed.

[–] pohart@lemmyrs.org 2 points 1 year ago

more or less, at least.

I think this is the crux of it for a lot of folks. We pick the labels that feel closest most if the time. Just don't let your labels define you.

[–] potsnpans 3 points 1 year ago

Yea, I question that shit on the daily. More fun than way!

Most people question themselves more than once, that's healthy. But you don't have to be absolutely certain of a label to use it, and you don't have to prove anything to anyone. Use what feels most right in the moment, and focus on the feelings over the labels themselves. If you think bi doesn't feel right, you can use something similar that feels more comfortable, or an umbrella term, or no label at all. And if you find something totally different that feels right instead, you can switch to that too. As many times as you want, as often as you want. There's no limits to exploring your identity.

The main thing is not to let yourself get too caught up in trying to perfectly define something that is, ultimately, unique to you. Labels are only useful as far as they help you understand yourself and communicate to others. If "bi" is doing that for you, don't stress it. If it isn't, it's time for some self reflection and exploration.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 year ago

I'm bi

So very much yes

Sees hot dude

"Maybe I'm gay and just refusing to accept it?"

Sees hot chick

"Maybe I'm straight and not wanting to accept it?"

Haven't seen anyone attractive in awhile

Brain

"Hear me out..."

[–] sunshi@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I identify with your question. A friend recently asked me why I identify as bi. I answered that it's based on sincere introspection and my attempts to understand who I am and where my attractions lie. I don't need to prove anything to friends or myself, I just want to understand myself the best way I can. And I also do aspire to seeing myself without a specific label, but I find that pretty tough to do.

[–] Bicyclejohn@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I was confused. Now j realised I'm really just omnisexual