I always knew I was different, but being born on 1963 and growing up in Argentina with missionary parents, I was not exploded to much. lol.
At 12 I read my first book with a love scene and remember relating to the boy in the story more than the girl.
I was flummoxed.
I had boyfriends but it never did much for me sexually and I decided I was frigid until at 21 a girl talked me into kissing her at a fraternity party. Electricity shot through me and from them on I knew. I had a boyfriend and a girlfriend both for a while, but ended up realizing I was a Lesbian. It was very hard and shocking being from my background. I walked away from everything I had been brought up to believe.
I really fought coming out as Femme. I resisted it for many years preferring to be "just me" and even at one point having a flat top and wearing men's clothes. I hated to be told I was not supposed to drive my car or pump my own gas since I was Femme. I hate being told I can't do something. I had way more resistance and contunue to for being Femme and dating Butches than I did for just being Lesbian. Somehow being Femme and looking like I sing Contemporary Christian music is wayyy more shocking than just fucking women. Lunatic Fringe. lol.
I was well into my 30's before the word Femme did not piss me off. I am still learning to be just me and ignore those people who would try to tell them how I should be.