Dear Natzz1017,

No matter what people may say, it is not possible to determine someone's sexual orientation just by looking at her or him. There are many stereotypes about how lesbians and gay men look and act, but that's all they are — stereotypes.

The only way to find out if someone is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or straight is to talk to her or him about it. But keep in mind that some people consider their sexual orientation to be a private, personal issue, and they may feel that a question like this an invasion of their privacy. It's also possible that they would consider it threatening. That's because in our society, there is a tremendous amount of fear and negative feeling about people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. This fear is called homophobia. It is caused by ignorance, misinformation, or lack of understanding about what lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are really like.

Being different from society's sexual norms can be very difficult in our culture. Most people who are homophobic are worried about their own sexuality and project that fear on others.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.