Your sexual identity refers to the label (or labels) that you are most comfortable using to describe your sexuality (eg lesbian, gay, queer). A number of different things contribute to your sexual identity – such as who you’re attracted to, who you tend to have sex with and who you form relationships with.

Because your sexual identity encompasses so many things, it can sometimes take people a while to figure out which label (or labels) they are most comfortable using. This is totally okay and normal. There’s no reason to rush into deciding on a label to describe your sexual identity. In the meantime, phrases like 'unsure' or 'same-sex attracted' might be helpful to use. Also, some people feel that none of the available labels accurately describe their sexual identity, and instead choose to use ‘no label’. Again, this is totally understandable and okay.

Components of your sexual identity may also change over your lifetime, as sexuality can often be fluid or changing. For example, later in life you might find yourself attracted to a gender you haven’t been attracted to before. Just because a component of your sexuality might have changed, this doesn't mean that you have to change your sexual identity or the label that you use. This is totally okay and nothing to be ashamed of at all - it’s common for parts of your sexuality to change over time.

More info

Contact: ACON's Fun & Esteem Project (for guys) or the Young Women's Project

Tel: (02) 9206 2000
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

E-mail: youth@acon.org.au

Contact: Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service

Tel: 02 8594 9596
Freecal: 1800 184 527

(don’t be fooled by their name – this service is for all same-sex attracted people, you don’t have to identify as gay or lesbian)