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The world knew I was gay before I did. I came out when I was 21, not because I was closeted, but because I was oblivious to the fact that I dug chicks.

While I may have been a late bloomer, I really wish someone had tapped me on the shoulder way before then and let me in on this little observation. My student life would’ve been stacks more fun if I scored as high in poontang as I did in postmodernism.

The world recognised my tomboy stylings — Chuck Taylors, messy short hair, b-ball skillz and matey/competitive relationships with straight dudes, and accurately judged this lezzie book by its cover. Think I was just too engrossed in books.

While it’s trickier to pick a femme lady lover, those of us with butch leanings start waving the rainbow flag when we’re born — even if we don’t salute it ’til much later in life.

I often look at pics of myself as a toddler dressed in a Richmond Footy Club uniform and desert boots, climbing trees, preferring my Skeletor doll over Barbie and knocking around with other little boys. The kid I am now is basically the kid I was then — with slightly larger feet, a mortgage and a fondness for girl germs.

The period in the middle was a time for experimentation, boyfriends, copycat behavior, lipstick and learning to walk as an adult — high heels anyone? I learnt from my mistakes.

I don’t know why I’m gay any more than why I like Vegemite, but the way I feel, look and act has been pretty consistent from birth — aside from those awkward years playing ‘dress-ups’.

So why did it take so long to figure out the gayness? Firstly, I dig guys. All the guys in my life have been awesome which is why I tried dating them — it just took awhile to learn the difference between liking someone and like-liking them.

I think it was partly due to a lack of ‘out’ lesbian role models. The only lez I knew of as a teen was k.d. lang and I definitely didn’t want to be her, or do her. There were certainly no Shanes from The L Word to look up to — which, come to think of it, is probably a good thing.

By MONIQUE SCHAFTER