--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew from a young age that I was…" description: "\"I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys. I didn't know if it was a phase... I didn't want to say, 'Hey, I might be gay. I might be bi.' I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/michael-sam-20718_age_i-knew-from-a-young-age-that-i-was-attra_2466986.jpg" --- # I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys. I… ![“I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys. I didn't know if it was a phase... I didn't want to say, 'Hey, I might be gay. I might be bi.' I just didn't know... I wanted to find who I was and make sure I knew what was comfortable. So I didn't tell anyone growing up.” quote by Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/michael-sam-20718_age_i-knew-from-a-young-age-that-i-was-attra_2466986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/michael-sam-20718_age_i-knew-from-a-young-age-that-i-was-attra_2466986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/michael-sam-20718_age_i-knew-from-a-young-age-that-i-was-attra_2466986.jpg) > “I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys. I didn't know if it was a phase... I didn't want to say, 'Hey, I might be gay. I might be bi.' I just didn't know... I wanted to find who I was and make sure I knew what was comfortable. So I didn't tell anyone growing up.” [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-discovery of sexual identity involves uncertainty and gradual acceptance. **In simple terms:** Finding identity takes time. Key Takeaway Be patient with self. Themes identity acceptance Lareness Mood hopeful introspective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - coming out - mental health - support groups Key Concepts LGBTQ+ personal growth Questions to Reflect On - When did you first feel uncertain? - How can you support others in similar journeys? A Different Perspective May not reflect all experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Attracted Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attracted-guys-346464/) [Bi Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bi-just-720977/) [Didn Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-tell/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Knew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-young-441469/) [Phase Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phase-didn-720978/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-age/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not gay or bi , I'm just a beautiful person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rivera/i-m-not-gay-or-bi-i-m-just-a-beautiful-person/) [Mike Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rivera/) > [I knew at a very young age that I didn't really buy the whole God gamut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-knew-at-a-very-young-age-that-i-didn-t-really-buy-the-whole-god/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [“Words like lucky and advantages we knew, even at our young age, were upscale euphemisms for not poor, not the son of a drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-pittard/words-like-lucky-and-advantages-we-knew-even-at-our-young-age-were/) [Hannah Pittard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-pittard/) > [I knew at a young age what my limits were and what my strengths were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-dudley/i-knew-at-a-young-age-what-my-limits-were-and-what-my-strengths-were/) [Jared Dudley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-dudley/) > [Being married and having a child was not something I wanted, and I knew that at a very young age. I tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-clarkson/being-married-and-having-a-child-was-not-something-i-wanted-and-i/) [Patricia Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-clarkson/) > [I knew from a young age that I could sing and it was impressed upon me that if I got a classically trained education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shuler-hensley/i-knew-from-a-young-age-that-i-could-sing-and-it-was-impressed-upon/) [Shuler Hensley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shuler-hensley/) > [I knew that I wanted to live in a city, but had never really been to New York. But I was begging my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherien-dabis/i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-live-in-a-city-but-had-never-really-been-to/) [Cherien Dabis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherien-dabis/) > [I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be in that world. But I also understood that being a touring musician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domino-kirke/i-knew-from-a-very-young-age-that-i-wanted-to-be-in-that-world-but-i/) [Domino Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domino-kirke/) > [I knew at a young age that I wanted to do comedy, and maybe part of that was trying to fit in at school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasim-pedrad/i-knew-at-a-young-age-that-i-wanted-to-do-comedy-and-maybe-part-of/) [Nasim Pedrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nasim-pedrad/) > [“You wanted to lick my face the first time you saw me? Is that usually what you do when you’re attracted to guys?” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-wanted-to-lick-my-face-the-first-time-you-saw-me-is-that-usually/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [I'm attracted to guys who are really confident and make conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-m-attracted-to-guys-who-are-really-confident-and-make-conversation/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [Traditionally, animation has been dominated by men in the past. I don't know why it attracted guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-docter/traditionally-animation-has-been-dominated-by-men-in-the-past-i-don-t/) [Pete Docter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-docter/) > [I'm 100% more attracted to guys who smile, and smile a lot! (:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/i-m-100-more-attracted-to-guys-who-smile-and-smile-a-lot/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [“If you’re attracted to guys who like blue you’ll get stink if you sport nothing but pink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-alvear/if-you-re-attracted-to-guys-who-like-blue-you-ll-get-stink-if-you/) [Mike Alvear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-alvear/) > [Men find powerful women so threatening, and finding a partner was starting to look laughable, because I would be really attracted to guys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/men-find-powerful-women-so-threatening-and-finding-a-partner-was/) [Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/) ## More by Michael Sam > [I wish you guys would just say, 'Michael Sam, how's the football going? How's training going?' But it is what it is. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-wish-you-guys-would-just-say-michael-sam-how-s-the-football-going/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I needed football - it was just something to do, an excuse to not be at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-needed-football-it-was-just-something-to-do-an-excuse-to-not-be-at/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [If I want to kiss my boyfriend, I'm gonna kiss him. If they want to film it, that's their problem. Don't be mad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/if-i-want-to-kiss-my-boyfriend-i-m-gonna-kiss-him-if-they-want-to/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [My family was very notorious in the town that we lived in. Everyone would say, 'There goes those damn Sams.' I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/my-family-was-very-notorious-in-the-town-that-we-lived-in-everyone/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I just want to know if I'm truly not in the NFL, it's because of talent. Let it be because of my talents. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-just-want-to-know-if-i-m-truly-not-in-the-nfl-it-s-because-of/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [It has all happened so quickly, but it's exciting, I just wanna get back to playing football you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/it-has-all-happened-so-quickly-but-it-s-exciting-i-just-wanna-get/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it. I just want to own my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-just-want-to-make-sure-i-could-tell-my-story-the-way-i-want-to-tell/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I'm Michael Sam, I'm a football player, and I'm gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-m-michael-sam-i-m-a-football-player-and-i-m-gay/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [The players who have reached out to me and told me about their sexual orientation, it just means a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/the-players-who-have-reached-out-to-me-and-told-me-about-their-sexual/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [Was it a risky move? Yes, but at that moment, the reason why I came out is I thought it wasn't going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/was-it-a-risky-move-yes-but-at-that-moment-the-reason-why-i-came-out/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I'm not afraid to tell the world who I am. I'm Michael Sam: I'm a college graduate. I'm African American, and I'm gay. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-m-not-afraid-to-tell-the-world-who-i-am-i-m-michael-sam-i-m-a/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [Great things happen when you have the courage to be yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/great-things-happen-when-you-have-the-courage-to-be-yourself/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [I am an openly proud gay man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/i-am-an-openly-proud-gay-man/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [The most worthwhile things in life rarely come easy, this is a lesson I've always known. The journey continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/the-most-worthwhile-things-in-life-rarely-come-easy-this-is-a-lesson/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) > [A straight person doesn't have to go in the media and tell them that they're straight, and I don't think a gay person should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sam/a-straight-person-doesn-t-have-to-go-in-the-media-and-tell-them-that/) [Michael Sam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) [Explore all 30 Michael Sam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sam/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? 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That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew from a young age that I was attracted to guys. I didn't know if it was a phase... I didn't want to say, 'Hey, I might be gay. I might be bi.' I just didn't know... I wanted to find who I was and make sure I knew what was comfortable. 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