I’m a 23M from Rabat, and I’ve struggled with these feelings since I was young. I feel drawn to men, especially muscular and masculine men, but I don’t experience sexual desire toward them. What I feel is more like admiration, emotional attachment, wanting closeness and affection, wanting to be accepted by other men, and wanting to feel safe and protected around them. Sometimes, I feel that other men have something I’m missing in myself.
I’m confused because I don’t really feel attracted to women either. I’ve never had any sexual experience with a man or a woman, so I’m trying to understand what these feelings mean and whether they indicate that I’m gay or whether there could be another explanation.
I’ve wondered whether loneliness, insecurity, or experiences from my childhood might play a role, but I don’t know for sure. I want to understand the difference between emotional needs, admiration, romantic feelings, and sexual attraction.
My questions are:
- Can someone experience strong emotional feelings toward men without feeling sexually attracted to them?
- Does this necessarily mean someone is gay, or could there be another explanation?
- Why might I feel such a strong need for closeness, affection, safety, and protection from other men, especially masculine men?
- Has anyone experienced something similar and found a way to understand these feelings?
- What can I do to understand myself better and deal with this confusion?
I’m not looking for hookups or anything sexual. I’m genuinely looking for clarity, advice, and possible solutions. I would really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced something similar or have helpful knowledge.
Please be respectful. This is something personal that I’ve struggled with for a long time, and I’m hoping to understand myself better rather than be judged.