For all of my life, I've just sort of taken it for granted that I'm straight. I've never felt uncomfortable with that label, and I've never felt like I've been lying to myself or others about who I am. After all this, it was with some surprise that I realized I might be bi. Not only that, but that there's a pretty large likelihood that I am.
Now, I almost feel bad asking for advice here because there are a fair number of LGBTQ and sometimes Y people here who have had to face rejection from friends and family, and who have struggled with depression because of the societal treatment of their identity, whereas I (at least from my point of view) am in a pretty cushy position in terms of coming out. My family has told me before that they would accept me no matter my religion, gender identity or sexuality. I live in Seattle, probably one of the least bad places in the world to not be straight. All my friends are just as liberal as me, if not more. Yet, I still don't know if I feel comfortable coming out.
I just feel that if I come out, regardless of people's acceptance, I'll lose my individual identity to some extent. I feel like instead of people just seeing me as myself, they'll see me as 'that bi guy'. If nothing else, this whole experience has affirmed my belief that gender identity and sexual orientation are thought of as being much larger parts of someone's identity than they are. Who you're attracted to and what gender you are have such little impact on personality, but they're treated like integral parts of yourself as a person.
Should I come out at all? What if I think later that I actually am straight and I have to tell that to people? I don't feel like I'm doing myself any great disservice by only expressing half my sexuality, so should I take the risk and be honest or just stay in my comfort zone?
Excuse any awkward wording or spelling, I'm basically just venting on my kindle at midnight.