Did anyone realize they were gay later than 20?

[colinmackay]

Up until recently, I considered myself to be heterosexual. I have been attracted to and intimate with women, and enjoyed it on a physical as well as a deeper level. But a few months ago, I began to see things differently. I am not longer sexually (or in any other way) attracted to women, but rather men, and I have no problem with it whatsoever. The only thing that concerns me is my age. Although still young (22), it seems that in the majority of "realization" stories that I have heard or read, most people noticed their homosexual tendencies at a young age, some even before puberty. Granted I did have gay fantasies, it was rare. I want everything to work out, but I feel like this is happening for all the wrong reasons and I am lying to myself because it is happening so late. So what I am asking is how common it is for people to realize this at this late of age, or if anyone had a similar situation to possibly give me some advice.
anyways thanks for the halp

Indeed the majority of realisation stories are in teenage years. That's also what made it hard for me. I was 34 when I came to final realisation and acceptance.

I am actually in the process of setting up a site for folks that come to realisation or acceptance later. Anywhere post university years, because that's when the easy access to help such as school/college/university LGBT groups end and so that's when it becomes much more difficult.

When I came out I told a friend who was gay. He assured me not to feel silly or slow as a result of my age. He knows of men in their 60s who have only recently come out. Just knowing that, on its own, helped a lot.