A: Basically, your sexual orientation is something that is part of you - just like the color of your eyes and the shape of your nose. So, in general, no, you can't change your sexual orientation.

Some conservative and religious groups claim people can change their sexual orientation through prayer or therapy. But this just isn't true. People might change their sexual behavior. Maybe they start having sex with a member of a different gender. Or, they might stop having sex altogether. But, that doesn't change their inner feelings of who they find attractive.

In other cases, people's understanding of their sexual orientation changes. Our society generally accepts being heterosexual as "normal." That puts a lot of pressure on lesbian, gay and bisexual people to suppress their true feelings and try to fit in. It seems easier, even if it means being someone you're not. A lot of times, though, people realize they can't pretend for their whole life. So, they come out. They haven't "become" lesbian, gay or bisexual. They've just accepted who they are.