Thanks for sharing! This demonstrates exactly the kind of genuine honesty that this community values!

I found it easier to associate with female characters than male ones. I empathized with them more.

I generally find it easier to empathize with female characters too! I've come to understand this as a higher personal value of strengths traditionally associated with females. There are masculine and feminine qualities, but we all have both to different degrees. I've always valued dexterity, wisdom, and intelligence over strength, constitution, and charisma.

I don't get sexually attracted to someone without romance it seems.

I also find emotional connection to be what makes sex worthwhile. Although I've never had a desire for sex with another male. I've considered it many times, just to be honest with myself, but it seems I am "straight." The idea of my intimacy with another man does not appeal to me.

I never tried to choose a label for myself regarding these things, though. I guess I wasn't aware there were so many to choose from. Lately, though, I've felt less and less the value in naming and measuring everything. I feel much closer to truth when I understand things holistically and intuitively rather than by separating and quantifying. Of course, terms are great for communication and conceptualization.

But is my sexual orientation an expression of my nature, or is my nature determined by what desires I invest in? I don't know, but I feel that if I chose to, I could think my way into a different "sexual orientation." But I don't have any desire to do that at the moment. And so I just don't go there in my mind, and my hypothesis remains untested. But I have no judgment for any identity, and I recognize that many people feel they have no choice in such matters.

I can appreciate the beauty of males just as easily as I can that of females. I feel that I can empathize with the attraction gay men have for each other even though I don't find that attraction within myself.

This all makes more sense when I consider the many lives I've lived on this planet, as male, female, straight, gay, etc. I've been a brother and a sister, a mother and a father. I've found value in every perspective.

If I had to choose a label for myself, I suppose it would be "empath."

Why am I rambling about myself on your post? Good question. I guess I relate to a lot of what you said, and I don't want your dad to be the only one commenting on your first non-intro post =D (jk, others have already commented before I finished writing this).