I started questioning my sexuality from a relatively early age, and in hind‑sight I think I was absolutely terrified of being gay and constantly willed myself to not like other girls.
I developed my first crush on a girl when I was in year 8, although I didn’t know it at the time as I had been in a relationship with a boy by then. By the time I was in year 10, I had my first relationship with a girl. I remember being so deeply ashamed and confused, I lied to everyone around me and always felt terrified of being exposed. It was totally exhausting. I thought that being with a girl meant I was gay and I had so much internalised homophobia that it scared the shit out me.
It wasn’t until my late teens that I began to understand that sexuality is fluid and that is something to be embraced, not shunned. I’ve since had relationships with both guys and girls, and don’t feel the need to put a label on my sexuality – I’m comfortable with who I am and who I choose to be with.