If you suspect that you might be bisexual, gay, or something else other than totally straight, it can be confusing to figure out what identity is right for you. It's all possible, and it's all very normal. Or you could simply be straight and still be experiencing these feelings for some reason. You could be gay, but you could also be a million other things. No online test is officially endorsed by the Kinsey Institute, though, and you can identify with whatever number feels comfortable to you.
Many online quizzes exist to help you figure out where you fall on the Kinsey scale. The Kinsey scale isn't perfect, but it can be empowering to think about where your sexuality falls along this spectrum and how it may have changed over time rather than leaping straight to "straight," "bi," or "gay." The Kinsey team's research shows that being 100% heterosexual or homosexual is rarer than you might think. X - No socio-sexual contacts or reactions The scale shows that sexual orientation is far from black and white instead, it shows sexual orientation as existing across a spectrum.ġ - Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexualĢ - Predominantly heterosexual but more than incidentally homosexualĤ - Predominantly homosexual but more than incidentally heterosexualĥ - Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual The Kinsey scale was developed by Alfred Kinsey in 1948 to measure human sexuality. Moreover, there are lots of other categories to choose from-there's a whole spectrum of sexuality between the extreme opposites of gay and straight. "Straightness, just like gayness, is an individually defined subjective reality," Baratz says. Identities like "straight" and "gay" may seem concrete and permanent, but in fact, research shows they're subjective and can change over time. There isn't a universal definition for any sexuality." "One person who identifies as gay may also have sexual or romantic feelings for women. "Just because someone identifies as straight doesn't mean that they can't and will never have romantic or sexual feelings for an individual of the same sex." This fluidity goes both ways, he adds. "The reality is sexuality is expansive and diverse," Baratz says. But does that mean only ever liking women? Not necessarily. "Traditionally, being 'straight' refers to one's sexual and romantic interest as being in the opposite sex," New York sex and relationship therapist Todd Baratz, LMHC, tells mbg.