The ABCDs of Homosexual Dating

Bigger schools or those in urban areas tend to have larger LGBTQ dating personals communities, but there are LGBTQ teens in schools across the country. Many urban areas have LGBTQ community centers.

Many schools have afterschool organizations for LGBTQ students as well as gay-straight alliances, but if yours doesn't, you can also check out local community groups, where it's possible to meet gay personals teens from many different schools. Check your local yellow pages under "Health and Human Services" and then under "Gay and Lesbian."



Nowadays dating is tough stuff for any teen, and being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) can add to the challenge. Should you be "out" as a couple? How do you deal with other people's reactions? But first things first — how do you find other LGBT teens to potentially date?


Getting a friend to fix you up is often the easiest way to go. Friends can usually set you up with other LGBTQ teens they know and trust.

Some LGBTQ teens find each other online, which can be the fastest way to connect with others in your area. "In my school, in Illinois, there aren't many gay teens," says Jeff, 16. "I went online last year and met a guy who lived two hours away. We mostly chatted online or over the phone, but we ended up dating like that for three months and it was really great."



Like any online community, however, make sure you are being safe and not revealing too much about yourself since you never know who's on the other end of your computer connection! Keep in mind that many people who you meet online aren't who they claim to be.

So, rule one, don't give out any information like your name, phone number, address, or identify your school. And don't share info about friends, either. If you do decide to get together with an online friend, make sure you proceed with caution. Don't go meet someone at a hotel or house. Meet only in a very safe, public environment, like a shopping mall, or a fast-food restaurant. To be extra safe, bring a friend along.

Also, let your family or a friend know where you'll be. Use your own transportation, or make sure you have money reserved to get back, in case things don't go as you hope and you want to make an early exit.