How can you tell if someone is gay?

Generally, you can't be sure of another person's sexual orientation as only the individual knows. If a person decides to tell you they are gay, then you will know for sure. If you are curious and are close to the person you may consider asking them. If they deny it or do not answer, be patient - they may need more time adjusting themselves before they come out to others. Also consider that they might in fact be straight despite "seeming" gay.

Some males and females seem to move beyond societal gender norms more than others, but this does not give conclusive evidence about their sexual orientation. Not all gay men have high sounding voices and not all men with high sounding voices are gay.

You may suspect others who are next to you on the bus and others in the doctor's office (perhaps the doctor) to be gay or lesbian. Don't be afraid - they are no different from heterosexuals beyond they just have a sexual attraction to the same gender. Various sexual attractions are acknowledged as natural by most psychological organizations. Sexuality, sex, and love all form into the same concept: caring for another.

Some gays and lesbians openly express their sexuality and some do not, so it is very hard at times to tell if a person is gay. Gays come from all walks of life and can be muscular, rough and tough looking, or very effeminate. Lesbians can be beautiful, feminine, or masculine (often referred to as a Butch).

If you are in a relationship and are wondering about your partner's sexual orientation, then the person may be gay or bisexual. Then if this is a concern to you, you can ask them about it. Be warned, if the person isn't gay or bisexual, this remark could end your relationship.

Sometimes there are stereotypical signs which do indicate sexual orientation. One prominent example is rainbow themed clothing, although there are many instances where such clothing is not tied in any way to the LGBT community, so it may be better not to conclude orientations based off of appearances.

You might recognize a lesbian by her behavior, clothing, or grooming. If a woman looks masculine with a man's hair style or masculine clothing, walks and talks more masculine, or seems romantically attracted to other women, she may well be a lesbian. If she displays none of these signs, she may still be a lesbian, but there is no way to know unless she tells you. The only way to know is wait for her to disclose information to you, or ask her about it if you feel your relationship or her general openness will allow it.

Truth is you won't always know if someone is gay, either because they are actively hiding it to stay in the closet or they do not fall under the stereotypes of being gay.

For some gays and lesbians, it's the other way around. Other do not believe them when they come out about their sexual orientation. Often it is a question of "acting" gay. When people feel like they know a person and haven't considered they might be LGBT, coming out it can be hard to understand. That's where stereotype comes in. If a guy enjoys dressing nice, taking his time to get ready, and just loves being high maintenance does that automatically make him gay? If a girl has short hair, likes sports, and wears baggy clothes, does that make her a lesbian? No - nothing than a person's lasting physical and emotional attractions make their sexual orientation one thing or another.

Gay people and straight people are all very different. Sexual orientation doesn't derive itself from the way people look or talk. This serves as a reminder to all of us to not judge based on looks, because looks can be deceiving.

Generally when you are unsure (or even if you are quite sure) the most respectful thing to do is ask. This is better than the alternatives of listening to rumors or requesting information behind their back.

If you do not personally know the person, asking may be awkward or at times inappropriate. However, given appropriate circumstances asking could well be a fine course of action (similar to when you might ask about a person's hair or book they're reading).

If you think you may be gay, realize that only you can know for sure. If you are mostly sexually (or emotionally) attracted to people of your same gender then you might be gay. If you are sexually (or emotionally) attracted to both genders (in somewhat equal amounts) then you may be bisexual or confused about your sexuality (i.e. questioning) especially during early puberty. Whatever the situation is, you will know by the time you have finished puberty. If you find yourself LGBTQ, don't worry! There are resources available to help you with any issues you might be having and your life can still continue in mostly the same way.

Some males, straight as well as gay, show signs of being interested in gender bending behaviors like cross dressing and playing with toys associated with the opposite sex.

There is a funny post on the subject of femininity and the stereotypes of what gays are "supposed" to act like at the link below. Generally, we cannot conclude someone's sexual orientation from their appearances, behaviors, or other seemingly "gay traits". The only true way to know is if they disclose the information to you or if you ask them directly.