Addressing the issue of being gay is one of the hardest things to do in our society. We tend to believe that not talking about something or acknowledging it is the best thing for it.

This pertains to emotional relationships with friends, lovers, and family, but it also pertains to how we view things that make us uncomfortable. This is something that a lot of people around the world tend to pretend isn't real. I'm not talking about race (not today, at least). I'm talking about sexuality. Particularly, homosexuality.

Sexuality as a whole is a misguided topic. Some of the best and informational articles you'll ever read about sexuality are hidden under this thing we've decided to call "the liberal media," and a majority of Americans won't read an article they see on Facebook from Huffington Post's Gay Voices section.

That's also because most Americans don't care. It's not relevant.

However, there's a minority of straight people of all religions that feel as though gay relationships and representation in modern media is unsettling. I've heard it from people within my age group as well as those who are not religious. They claim the LGBTAQ+ community "rubs it in their face."

Straight sexuality is being rubbed in my face all day. The micro-aggression my girlfriend and I face from many people around us goes to show you that just because it's 2016, people haven't changed all too much.

The glorious thing about this is that I live in New York. I'm grateful that it's a much more progressive place than other parts of the country, but that doesn't mean I don't face homophobia.

Everyday things that straight people do like holding hands in public, eating at a fancy restaurant, or kissing goodbye on the subway are all privileges that we earned, but can't use everywhere.

Every guy that ever admitted they were attracted to me said I was "chill," and that's what they liked about me (imagine if I told them I was a feminist). Upon telling them that I had a girlfriend, I always got a round of questions:

"Wait, like... Girlfriend?" "How does sex work?" "Would you ever have a threesome?"

I answered these questions with no hesitation because I felt it was helping people understand, but it eventually got annoying. I never had to ask straight people these questions, and I never automatically assumed their straightness was a phase.

These same young guys would keep flirting, inadvertently telling me that they didn't respect my sexuality by fetishizing it.

I've had acquaintances tell me that lesbians can never lose their virginity. They told me this.

Although you might not think you're homophobic, chances are you do and say 'homophobic' things every once in a while. I know this because I used to say and do 'homophobic' things for years.

The lack of representation and the misinformation about sex in general are what keep these micro-aggressions alive. There is more to sexuality than gay, straight, or bisexual. There are many factors that play a role in sexuality. Even though people know this, many people cannot fathom that it's real, that people experience love, sex, and attraction differently and separately.

Unfortunately, hiding or oppressing sexuality can ruin your life. My whole four years of high school was a series of me switching sides and covering up lies, becoming manic, psychologically hurting myself and other people.

Why?

Sexuality wasn't talked about. And if it was, it was negative. And that's what needs to change.

(My girlfriend Marianna and I have been together for 2 years now, and have been friends for longer. We have normal dates like straight couples.)

I was so afraid of accepting myself, and I know many other people are as well. Quite frankly, I don't blame them. This world is a really scary place, and there are some really scary people out there that have very angry words for the LGBTQ community.

But I have faith that one day the majority of the world will change. Lesbian moms can be on a sit-com without One Million Moms trying to ban it from television. And children won't have to come out to their parents because God knows they're straight siblings didn't have to.