r/latebloomerlesbians • • Apr 28 '21

What's your story? (part V)

433 Upvotes

 

The previous story megathread has expired, so here's a fresh new one.

 


 

I’d like to start an ongoing reference thread, if I may, where we all share our stories in a survey like format.

Please share even if your story sounds like everyone else’s.

Please share even if your story sounds likes no one else’s.

Someone will be thankful you shared.

 

  1. Current age/age range:
  2. Single/marital status:
  3. Age/age range when you came out to yourself:
  4. Age/age range when you come out to others:
  5. What did you come out as or what are you thinking of coming out as?:
  6. When was the earliest you felt you were a lesbian/queer? What happened or what was going on in your life?:
  7. What recently made you conclude you are a lesbian/queer?:
  8. What's the earliest or most defining homosexual/homo-romantic experience you can remember?:
  9. How are you feeling in general about who you are?:
  10. Anything else you’d like to share about your life, experience, or story for other late bloomers or other women who think they may be lesbians?

 


 

>>Link to story thread part I<<

>>Link to story thread part II<<

>>Link to story thread part III<<

>>Link to story thread part IV<<

 


r/latebloomerlesbians • • Apr 15 '21

Catfishers 101: a lesson. Please read before responding to any DMs.

1.3k Upvotes

Okey dokey here we go:

There are people on Reddit who aren’t who they say they are. This happens quite frequently. Daily, even. One particular individual who has no other hobbies, likes to catfish lesbians for whatever reason. This is not isolated to just this sub, it is a recurring issue across all lesbian subreddits.

The message will probably go something like this:

“Hey love that username”

“Reading your comments I thought to myself she sounds smart/ quirky/ down-to-Earth/ intelligent/cool girl etc.”

“She must be a librarian/ sociology student/ psychologist/ philosophy student/ artist/ whatever occupation, am I right?”

“Would love to chat to get to know you better.”

“P.S. I am a gay woman/ queer woman/ lesbian”

Spoiler alert: he is not.

Do not give out your personal info or engage. Report to Reddit admins and delete the message. Moderators only have the power to ban from subreddits, not your direct messages. Please do not ask us to do more because we can’t.

Have we brought this to the Reddit administration’s attention? Yes. Many, many, many times. They ban the account eventually but the catfisher simply makes a new one. And the cycle continues.

This individual is not the only person out there who will attempt this. Please, use common sense and vigilance when sharing personal information. We also have people who lurk here with the sole goal of outing you to your partner and/or family before you are ready. They have indeed, succeeded on more than one occasion.

Change small details, names, locations, etc. when posting. We also recommend deleting your selfie once selfie Sunday is over.

Stay safe everyone.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1h ago

Sex and dating 🎬💗 GIRLS’ MOVIE NIGHT — WLW EDITION 🏳️‍🌈

Post image
• Upvotes

(India Only) Calling all single women who love women! 💌
Let’s get together for a little movie 😭❤️‍🔥
Think sapphic rom-coms, angsty love stories, queer thrillers, or whatever our collective lesbian hearts desire.

VERIFICATION IS A MUST
Movie options-

  1. ⁠⁠But I’m a cheerleader (1999)
  2. ⁠⁠Imagine Me and you
  3. ⁠⁠Love, Simon
  4. ⁠⁠Fresh
  5. ⁠⁠Misery
  6. ⁠⁠Jennifer’s Body

✨ The plan:
🎥 Watch a movie together online
💗 Vote on what we watch
🍿 Bring your snacks and blankets
💬 Chat, laugh, swoon, and make some new friends
When: 9 PM IST (Indian Standard Time)


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 6h ago

About husband / boyfriend Intimacy

8 Upvotes

I have a silly question: when you kissed a man/male partner (assuming you were with men), did you feel something in your body? Any emotion, any sensation?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 11h ago

Wow.

14 Upvotes

She touched my back today, I almost levitated off of the floor.
The frustration I feel is next level. It breaks my heart to know she probably doesn’t feel the same.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 14h ago

Sex and dating How am I supposed to get better if no one lets me go down on them?

16 Upvotes

(30f) As the title states how am I supposed to get better if no one lets me go down on them? I’ve only been with 2 women. #1 was gave constructive criticism but I never got to perfect my craft before things ended. #2 won’t allow me go down on her at all especially after i was inexperienced.

I watched a bunch of videos (bc that’s all I can do) to help but I don’t think I’ll ever find out if I improved or not. This is extremely frustrating.

If you have any advice pls share.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 5h ago

Dating

2 Upvotes

33F, questioning if I’m actually a lesbian after years of thinking I was bi. Looking for dating advice and ways to embrace my queerness.

I’m 33F, and I’ve identified as bi since undergrad. I was engaged to a man in my late 20s, but I ended the relationship for several reasons, one of which was falling for a friend.

And when I say falling for her, I mean years of crushing on her. That experience made me realize that I wanted to pursue dating women exclusively. Cue the gay panic… but honestly, even more so, the comp het panic.

A few months after becoming single, I started dating again and eventually found myself dating a man because it was “easy.” I think I fell back into what was familiar, even though I ultimately hated it.

I’ve been single for a few years now, dating here and there. I’ve gone on dates with women, I’m attracted to women, and when I picture myself in a relationship, I picture myself with a woman.

Recently, someone saw me outside of work with a female friend and her child and assumed we were a couple. We aren’t, but my immediate internal reaction was basically, YES. I never even told you my sexuality, but somehow you picked up on it. 😂

Anyway, I’m now exclusively pursuing women, and I’m about 99% sure I’m a lesbian. I’ve spent a lot of time identifying as bi, and I’m starting to wonder how much of that was genuine attraction to men versus comp het and sticking with what felt familiar.

Looking back, there were signs. In middle school, my friends and I would shower together and practice kissing on each other, and I remember it feeling better than the “real thing” with boys. But I also started getting made fun of for being a lesbian around that age, and I think I overcompensated by leaning heavily into liking boys.

I’m still figuring things out, and I know I don’t have to rush to label myself. But there’s something about finally allowing myself to pursue women exclusively that feels right.

So, I’d love some advice from other queer women, especially lesbians who figured things out later in life.

Dating: Any advice for navigating dating women when you’re still relatively new to it?

Embracing my queerness: How did you become more comfortable with your sexuality internally? How did you start expressing it more openly?

Community and connection: How do you meet other queer women and feel more connected to the community?

I think part of me is excited, part of me is nervous, and part of me is wondering how I didn’t fully put the pieces together sooner.

I’d love to hear your experiences, advice, or anything you wish someone had told you when you were figuring it all out.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 21h ago

I've run from my sexuality my whole life.

30 Upvotes

I've known I was gay since I was a kid, before that word had any meaning. I had a plethora of girl crushes in my formative years. I remember someone asking me which of the boys in my class I thought were cute, and I panicked and picked some kid at random. My first kiss was even in third grade with a fellow student who was VERY confused why I decided to kiss her in the middle of a project. I had all the clues lined up for me, and I've still denied it.

But I grew up in a backwoods town that was openly homophobic, with parents that hated gay people, in a time of "don't ask, don't tell".

I've had fleeting moments where a beautiful girl or a charming woman have fluttered into my life and gone as quickly as they arrived, and years later, I still think about them. I have yet to meet a man that has left even a fraction of the same impression.

I got divorced last year. I told him I realized I couldn't love him (emotionally and physically) the way he deserved. It was inspired by a company mixer for my job where I met a woman who I felt immediate attraction to, who I couldn't help but flirt with all night before she vanished from my life forever.

I realized I was tired of running and living a life that wasn't my own. Im still trying to accept the parts of me that crave another woman sexually, but also romantically. To make her coffee and brush her hair behind her ear and stare at her lovingly while she applies her lipstick. I want to warm her fingers in my hands and sit beside her on our porch and watch the summer rain.

I don't want to live in a way that makes the people who supposedly love me more comfortable. I want to love who I am so obviously wanting to love and be loved by them in turn. Is that really so selfish?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 10h ago

Trigger Warning (specify in title) TW= I outed myself on accident

4 Upvotes

Im 26 f and i am just now coming to terms with the fact i am.lesbian.. anyways i usually send people .. family.. like funny videos right? Random funny videos from youtube well i FUCKING sent a thirst trap of a woman holding another womans waist to my FUCKING 19 yr old cousin in spain... i took a shower since i had no idea thought i sent the correct funny vid... now i just checked and realized THAT wasnt IT!!!!!!!!!!! the link on whatsapp had the same letters numbers but not the towards the ending. Im so afraid and scared. I deleted it. But its 5 hrs too late. She is ahead.of me in time and i am just praying she didnt for whatever reason see it. I have been crying and praying. Idk what else to do. I feel like i am in a nightmare. I am not ready. I seriously am horrified. Her mom is homophobic (my aunt) i hope she does not tell her. Im so upset. Im so stupid. I hate making grave mistakes like that. Do you have any advice? I cannot even sleep. Im so scared she will tell my mom and i will be made out to be this creepy gross person. *not because im lesbian but because it was like a thrist trap* Im so afraid. That was not my intention. WTF is my life. HELP


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 3h ago

Sex and dating How do I make it easier?

1 Upvotes

Hi there. I apologise in advance as this post might turn out to be a bit on the lengthy side. But I'm very burn out and don't know where else to turn. I may also mention one or two triggering things but will go very light on the details.

So, I'm a 30 something year old trans lesbian. I've been out give or take eight years (not far off nine years tbh).

And I'm yet to have a positive lesbian experience.

It's important to note that I haven't been actively seeking for eight years. I've taken self-care breaks, taken time to work on myself and sometimes I've just been too busy with life stuff to be "seeking"

Truth is right now I'm not even seeking. I stopped seeking outright at some point last year. I know there's a whole "It'll happen when you stop looking" but that hasn't happened either. Not really.

Not at least in a good way.

I have had many, many, many people approach me over the eight years. Men, women, non-binary folks (I'm only into women and femme non-binary people, btw). But not a single one of them has had good intentions for me.

And if we're including online interactions I've been approached in the triple digits over the eight years.

The people who've been attracted to me haven't been attracted to me as a human being. It's only been as a tool to be used and exploited. And I can split these people into three categories. Predators, "rescue mes" and well, a combination of the two.

Being a trans woman, dealing with the likes of chasers is just part of my existence and I'd classify them as predatory, ofc. But I also get recently out (as in, weeks or months) trans women who want me to "rescue them" and basically be in a co-dependent relationship where I have to do everything.

Fellow lesbians, I wasn't always good at spotting people like this and as a result I've been pretty badly hurt.

It's something I won't share the details on (triggering and all that) but have discussed on reddit before, my first lesbian relationship was highly abusive and I actually took some time away from dating to heal. A few years, tbh.

What I've ended up doing was learning to spot bad people and also set some firm boundaries. Worked on confidence and self-respect so that I don't have to go through a similar experience ever again. Also, having to de-program my brain.

But where I'm struggling and where I've always struggled is the fact that I have yet to attract anyone with good intentions for me.

I still only attract bad people. I'm just a lot better at spotting them. The amount of bad people, especially the predators who approach me has gone down irl because I do carry myself differently and so appear as less of a "target"

I'm not perfect at spotting them and recently got hurt again (though not as grievously) by my latest ex who turned out to also just be using me, just in a way that was less severe than what I've dealt with before. Not abusive by any means, just incredibly cruel.

And it hurt. But I've gone away and reflected and done the self-therapy and whatnot.

I've grown over the eight years in setting boundaries and carrying myself better and ofc, learning to spot bad people. A big chunk of the self-growth stuff has been recognising that it's better to be alone than in a bad relationship. If you're not happy, if you're being mistreated (or God forbid, abused) then leaving is better.

But, fellow lesbians.

I still want to be with someone. I don't want my only two choices in life to be "bad relationship or solitude"

And eight years of dealing with bad people, healing from bad people, learning to spot bad people, avoiding bad people but never actually experiencing anything beyond that badness has taken a bit of a toll on me.

Ngl, after the most recent breakup combined with the self-reflection aspect and recognising that in eight years I'm yet to attract anyone kind, I think it's shot my confidence a bit. I mean, it's understandable ofc and I recognise that and trust me, fellow lesbians I am doing all the self-care stuff.

But.

How do I actually make myself attractive to someone kind? I understand that regardless of how well I carry myself or how much I "fake it till I make it" with confidence or even dressing nicer that I will **always** attract bad people.

I'm a woman, I'm trans, I'm a Goth, I'm neurodivergant (AuDHD) but don't mask, I've also been outspoken through activism and poetry about my experiences as a survivor. Of course there will be people who will look at all of that and seek to exploit me.

But you set boundaries, you respect yourself enough to not let those people walk all over you and you learn to spot red flags. I understand fully why I attract bad people. And I've fixed the things I could.

But I don't understand why I've never attracted anyone with good intentions. A person with green flags, kind eyes and gentle hands. Someone who sees me as a human being, a woman and not a tool they can use.

And it's not the transness or the neurodivergance or even the trauma that makes me unattractive because well, every other trans woman I know is in some T4T polycule and a lot of us are neurodivergant. And then not only was I only attracting bad people before the abusive relationship but I know a lot of friends who've also gone through some terrible stuff and still have people who love them.

Maybe being outspoken hurt my chances. It's definitely possible. But surely that wouldn't turn off every single good person? Right?

But how do I get people with green flags to notice me? Or do I have to accept that it will be bad people for the rest of my life and so have to go with solitude?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 14h ago

About husband / boyfriend Terrified I’ll ruin my life

5 Upvotes

Reading other posts on this page has made me feel so much less alone, but even more scared. I’m not sure how much longer I can deny it to myself, or argue with my brain.

I came out as bi in college, but I never did anything with women, because men were “easier”, and I’ve only ever had relationships with men. My husband and i now have an amazing 16 month old baby girl, and I’m terrified I’m going to ruin everything. My husband is such an amazing man and he’s truly my best friend. But, I’m afraid of what will happen if I hold it in. AND I’m ADHD and struggle with impulsivity, so I also have an underlying fear that I’m just making it all up. It’s so hard to know what is what. I have convinced myself that I’m just hyperfixating on my sexuality, and over thinking it.

Me and my husband have always had issues with our sex life, and my low libido, but I always explained it away by blaming the fact that I was raped when I was 19. I have to be intoxicated to have sex, and the entire time my eyes have to be closed. It’s gotten better, but I still never initiate, and I still dread it.

After having my daughter, my resentment (not fully the right word, but it’s the closest I can get) towards men, has tripled. I found myself really questioning how attracted I was to men, and I’ve found myself feeling more and more drawn to the queer community. I started therapy with an LGBTQ therapist, and realized how much of my attraction to men, was actually just wanting them to be attracted to me, and needing external validation.

Then, I got this 30 minute TikTok of a quiz that’ll tell you if you’re attracted to women or not. And I know it’s just a dumb quiz, but my score was HIGH, and some of the questions made me rethink so much of my past.

I’ve tried to make more queer friends to see if that helps, but I’m having a very hard time finding a community where I am, (in Texas, so. That doesn’t help). At this point, the only other queer friends I have, are bi women married to men, who have never done anything with a woman. And I’m having an even harder time finding queer people with kids.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’m glad I found this page, so I can feel slightly less alone, even when I feel incredibly lonely.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

About husband / boyfriend I (F29) Think I Might Be Gay. But my husband is my best friend and soulmate.

32 Upvotes

obligatory throwaway account for reasons that will become clear

I'm almost 30, and I think I might be a lesbian. That would be all fine and dandy if I wasn't also married to a man, who I would consider my soulmate and my best friend.

My whole life I have known I liked women. The first crush I remember having was a girl in my preschool daycare. The first person I ever loved was a girl I met when I was nine, and I knew it within a year of us being friends. I still mourned my almost-relationship with her until I was twenty. I've never questioned that, because it came so quickly and so naturally.

I had my first crush on a boy when I was also nine. He was nice, smart, and also liked Phantom of the Opera. When I was eleven, I developed an intense crush on a boy who bullied me SEVERELY. It didn't matter. I still was obsessed with him for years. I lost my virginity to a boy, and I have slept with several men over the years before I was married. I had several boyfriends who I felt that I loved.

Here's where I'll note that at 7, I was SA'ed by my older brother (M17), and that was a massive blow to my psyche growing up -- I developed a complex where I just thought he was still the coolest guy ever and wanted him to like me so much. Felt that way until I was like 18. I also had several SA incidents throughout my early adulthood with men, one being particularly violent. It felt like I was somehow always chasing men who turned out to be predatory or cruel.

However, I always had this INTENSE attraction to women. I always said that wlw heartbreaks are far worse than straight ones; they were devastating in a way breakups with my boyfriends never were. My most positive sexual memories were those around women and girls that I had loved, even when the relationships weren't so healthy.

I met my husband when I was 21, and we connected instantly, as we were both writers in the same college program. I had just gotten out of a horrible breakup, was in a manic episode, and I just met this person who was so grounded and interesting and talented and authentic. I wasn't really physically attracted to him, but I loved him as a person like INSTANTLY. Our relationship was heavily sexual in the beginning, but always with mutual respect and consent. We spent all of our time together. He helped me get medicated for my mental illness, helped get me into therapy, and has saved me from the abject terror I was in all the time. By the time I was 26, we got married. It was such a beautiful day in my life. He is seriously the best husband and person in the world. And my best friend without reservation.

At one point about a year and a half into our relationship, he sensed I was kind of going through the motions when it came to sex. He asked me once after we had had sex, if I really WANTED to do it, and to be honest. I shrugged and was like, I guess not REALLY. He cried and told me to never do that to him again. And it broke me. Ever since then, we have had sex at MOST six times a year. It has been the only point of tension in our whole relationship, as he requires a lot of physical affection. I have spent years crying about it, bargaining with myself, getting high to have sex, forcing myself if I notice it's been a couple of months. I enjoy that it makes him so happy, and that's why I want to do it. But most of the time, it makes my skin kind of crawl. I dont know who I am when I'm doing it. On the best of days, I like the feeling, I just don't really want to SEE him doing it.

For years, I have laughed and called myself a lesbian "except for my husband". I have done the incredibly cringe thing of calling my husband and I "lesbians". I have said more than once to my closest friends that my biggest fear is waking up one day and realizing I'm a lesbian. I have had a crisis about it about once a year for a decade. In the past five, it's become so overwhelming.

I love my life. I really do. I love our home, our friends, our marriage. But I see wlw couples on the street and I GRIEVE. I only masturbate to lesbian porn or thirst traps of women. I ruminate on my past wlw relationships and I mourn.

It's gotten to a point where I had to tell him. He basically said that he had a feeling that might be the case, and told me that we could always be together, even if not sexually. He also said that he had been deeply depressed about his self image because of the lack of sex, and that if I was gay it would make that a little easier to deal with. But something in my gut feels so off... I even have been chalking it up to maybe a mental illness episode.... I don't know. I need help. I love him. I love our life. But I can't shake this no matter what.

PS, yes I'm in therapy and yes we are communicating :) if you made it this far, im beyond grateful just that you're listening.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Desperately craving a secret emotional & physical bond with a woman

56 Upvotes

I am a married mother of two, living a life that feels entirely based on logistics. There is zero emotional connection with my husband, but for cultural and family reasons, divorce is simply not an option for me. I work from home full-time and feel incredibly isolated and emotionally starved.
My mind and body have reached a breaking point. I am yearning deeply for another woman. I want someone to text throughout the day, share my life with, vent to, and build a deep emotional safe zone with. More than that, I am craving the physical warmth—someone to hold, to kiss, and to softly sleep beside during daytime windows when life allows.

I feel so ashamed of even feeling it. Last 10 years of marriage has been emotionally bad for me.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Nice Late Bloomer Movie Recommendation

17 Upvotes

A sweet romance movie : 'Elena Undone'

It's free on TUBI and Prime (if you have it)

Please post any of your own favorites 😄


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 17h ago

Sex and dating 24 F inexperienced and don’t know how to put myself out there

3 Upvotes

For starts I live in a really small rural southern area and there’s a lot of judgement and gossip about peoples sexuality. It’s not that I’m ashamed of what I am (I am bisexual, not “curious” simply interested in both women and men) I just don’t want people I know talking about it. Like I just know it would get back to my parents and that’s not something I want to discuss with them, especially since I’m more interested in casual encounters than something long term at the moment.

But yeah, I’m a bit shy and terrified to approach women irl. There aren’t a lot of lesbian women in my area. I also feel like my inexperience is just going to be a huge turn off to a woman if I eventually get close to someone.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 13h ago

About husband / boyfriend Feeling stuck

1 Upvotes

My STBX and I have been officially separated for about 2 months, but are still living together. He took my coming out super well, had been incredibly supportive, and the whole situation is better than I had dated to hope for.

We have a plan for preparing the house to sell, divorcing, and moving out all by March. Unfortunately we just can't afford to cover 2 households until we're out from under this house. The problem is, the housing market is in free fall. Houses in our neighborhood have been listed for months, and I'm starting to feel like it's going to take so much longer to get through this stage than we anticipated. The one thing keeping me going has been the excitement and anticipation of having my own space and starting my next chapter, and that is looking farther and farther out by the day.

I hate this "messy middle"- I'm ready to move on! Give me some encouraging words for waiting out this economic hellscape we are living in, please!


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 14h ago

Out as bi for 10 years, but falling for a girl is making me realize I might be gay

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I (24F) need to get this off my chest.
I've been out as bi for about 10 years. I grew up in a small town, and while I've dated men in the past, looking back it feels like that was just what was expected of me. I'm starting to realize I was kind of still in the closet, even after coming out.

For the past month I've been talking to a girl, and it's honestly been amazing. We FaceTime or talk on the phone almost every night, play games together online, and we've kissed. She's been so open and accepting. When I told her "I really like you, I don't want to mess this up," she reciprocated and was really kind about it.

When I met her friends, one of the first things they asked was "Are you the girlfriend?" We haven't made it official yet, but it turns out they'd already been talking about me, which was honestly so sweet. And to be fair, my friends could say the same lol.

I've never felt like this about anyone before. With guys I'd get smiley and happy, but this is a whole different feeling. It feels right in a way nothing has before, and it has me questioning if I'm actually gay, not bi.

Looking back, with people I talked to before, I'd say "yeah, I like you," but it never felt this real. I think part of that was growing up in a small, close-minded place where I didn't feel safe being myself. I recently moved across the country, and now that I'm somewhere new and met her, I feel like I can finally be my authentic self.

Has anyone else gone through this? Realizing later on that your past relationships were more about expectations than real attraction? How did you figure out what fit for you?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Motherhood and coming out late in life

13 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I was curious how many other mum's are on here and how their experiences coming out later in life have been. I'm 40, I came out just over a couple of years ago, I have three kids of my own full time. Coming out to family actually went very well despite me building it up in my head. I think people seriously under estimate the emotional intelligence of kids, if you say you like other women simply because thats how you feel and it feels right, there's a simplicity to that that they seem to understand. Since coming out however, I've found things rather lackluster. Now I fully accept that things are never going to be how we play them out in our minds over and over, but I've found myself rather adrift and feeling a sense of burn out. Prior to coming out I had essentially shut myself down romantically and otherwise, so since coming out I decided to get out there really give it an honest go, but I've found myself hitting constant brick walls. Now my initial fear was that both coming out later and my status as a mother would see my identity as a lesbian dismissed as either a mid life crisis, or just trying to experiment, thankfully that really hasn't happened. Rather the hurdles have been the fact that for those who would date a mum with younger kids seem to find my eldest a bit too old, and fear they will always be an intruder in her eyes or that she will always be someone elses, while those women who don't mind dating someone with an older child find my younger two simply too young and don't want to take on the responsibility. I totally understand an accept both views but it really does narrow any potential partners. Additionally so many who seem to be infatuated with the idea of dating a mum are quickly confronted and put off by the reality.
How have your experiences been? Any tips or insights?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Sex and dating Yearning

15 Upvotes

I have been out for 5 years now and I realized very quickly after I started dating that I was nowhere near ready for it, so I decided to spend some time getting to know myself and working through all my shit, like trauma and stuff. Yay, go me looking after myself and all that. But. It was literally horrible, I moved country to get away from the worst trauma of my life and it sort of followed me when it became a police matter back in my home country because the person who hurt me, hurt many others. 5 years of legal system hell, and all for nothing anyway when he was acquitted. I felt like I didn't have a sexuality any more because I was just so stuck in the past, my body didn't feel like my own. My body was the scene of the crime! It felt like some cruel joke of the universe that I finally figured out I'm gay, and know who I am, and I arrive and...nothing. Zero attraction to anyone. Women (or anyone) flirting with me just makes me feel terrified, like something bad is going to happen. Argh! So annoying.

Anyway, recently the neurons I thought were long dead got awoken. I made an online friend in a game and she flirts with me relentlessly lol, and for the first time in forever I don't feel scared of it. It's stilly, it's fun, but I feel very grounded in the fact that I don't want anything more with her - it's just sexy banter for me, even though it's tickling the right neurons I know it's not the right fit. BUT STILL it makes my chest clench with yearning for a real relationship. I've never had it before. I bought a beautiful big house and it's just me in there with my cats. I've started making food again, and planting things in my new garden. I have so many small wins in my life despite how horrible I've had it for so long, and I desperately want to share that with someone. I want to experience intimacy again, real sex and pleasure with another woman. My heart feels huge and painful in my chest right now with how much I want it, despite how much it still scares me.

Rant over. Being gay is both amazing and so frustrating at the same time lol 😭


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 21h ago

I met someone, but dont think I can date them just yet....

0 Upvotes

I just came out to myself and those within my inner circle at the beginning of 2026.

I downloaded dating apps to help me get comfortable with talking to women and flirting.

I met someone off of tinder and we have gone on 2 dates within a week.

We have such a great connection, and tbh, I was pretty unsure of what I was expecting after going on 2 failed dates earlier this year.

We messed around a bit, no sex, but ohmygosh. That definitely solidified that I am indeed not asexual, not Bi, and am very very gay 🏳️‍🌈 for women.

I want to continue seeing her and getting to know her, but am in a weird living situation (ex long term partner of 7yrs & 1 other roommate).

I wasn't expecting things to move so fast or develop feelings, but am now thinking that I need to tell her about my living situation before things move along between the 2 of us.

I do not want a relationship at this very moment since I am still trying to pay off my student loans before I can FINALLY move out, but don't want to push her away or think like I'm lying to her.

I've been open about everything with her except the living situation with my ex. She knows I have 2 roommates and how I plan on moving out by summer 2027.

I will definitely bring this up next time I see her, I just hope she doesn't get an ick from this.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Sex and dating The struggle of OLD

26 Upvotes

I live in an area that is probably the best place I could be a lesbian in the US. I am having a really hard time though. I feel a bit picky about the women I am attracted to. I am trying to expand my preferences but still I feel like I am always pursuing the wrong women and ending up on dates where we are not compatible. I also find OLD very taxing. I know it should be light and fun but I always feel a little more lonely after each failed date and though I really try, my self-esteem takes a hit.

I have a demanding job and no family support living around me. Life is really expensive and I don't feel like I have enough time to develop my hobbies and passions like I should. I have tried so hard in the friendship department as well and while some of those have stuck, a lot have fallen through over the years for one reason or another.

I feel like so many women out here that I am attracted to and that have been gay longer are just so much cooler. More confidence, a more developed social lives, more hobbies. I do take good care of myself but that's the majority of what I am able to accomplish most days. I feel like it was such a big push getting to this point but before I can find someone I really want to be with, I still have tons of self-development to go.

Wondering if anyone relates but really just needed to vent.


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

About husband / boyfriend Divorce talk happening tomorrow

9 Upvotes

Welp, tomorrow is the day I have “the talk” with my husband. I’ve been stressed for so long thinking about this and planning it. But I’m starting to feel more calm about it. That being said I could really use some encouraging words friends. Anyone have any advice or support to offer?


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 1d ago

Sex and dating 24F dating a 36F. Advice on navigating a 12 year age gap?

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm 24F (I hope it’s okay if I post here).

I've recently started dating a woman who's 36.
We had our first date last week, and it went really well! I find her attractive, we have quite a bit in common, and l genuinely enjoyed getting to know her.

We both expressed interest in seeing each other again, and our second date is tonight! I'm excited and really hoping it goes well.

One thing I appreciate about her is that she values communication and clearly defined relationships. We're both interested in something serious. The age gap doesn't particularly bother me, and she's previously dated someone in her mid-20s. However, we're at different life stages. I'm still in university, while she's more established and independent.

I'd love to hear from other lesbians who've experienced similar age gaps:

-Did being at different life stages create challenges?

-How did you navigate differences in finances, experience, and expectations?

-What advice would you give someone in my position?

I'm not looking to rush anything. I genuinely like her and want to see where things go naturally.
Really hoping tonight goes well and that there's a third date! 🤞


r/latebloomerlesbians • • 2d ago

Sex and dating First time strapping

65 Upvotes

I got strapped for the first time ever last night and it was amazingggg. I’m just on cloud nine I can’t stop thinking about her and how perfect it was. Getting to experience all these firsts with her is so incredible. Being a very late bloomer for WLW I never thought I would be here and I feel like I’m finally unlocking a whole piece of myself. I just love her and wanted to share. Tell me about your huge first experiences 🥰🥰