As pride month has officially come to an end, I feel the need to add to the conversation, several thoughts that have been on my mind this year. Our identity and validation for that identity do not - and should not - be based upon our public practice of said identity. I came out as bisexual to my best friend almost 4 years ago. He was incredibly accepting where my boyfriend at the time and several of my other friends were not. I've never felt comfortable or safe telling my family so I haven't. (Which is my right to. We are all allowed to decide who does and does not know.) I don't feel comfortable actively dating a girl in public for this reason. This doesn't make me any less of a 20-something-year-old bisexual mess of a girl. My feelings are still valid and they still matter despite the lack of open practice of my identity. The fact I'm not dating a girl does not make me suddenly straight as so many assume. Yes, I am in a committed relationship with my best friend now and I'm pretty positive he will be the person I will build my future with, but this doesn't make me any less bisexual. He incourages me to not be ashamed of how I'm feeling and who I'm attracted to as my celebrity/stranger crush at the moment (especially if it is a girl). Most people in my life don't know my identity, but as I've gotten older I've learned that that's okay. Not everyone has to know because at the end of the day the only person who really needs to know and have acceptance is myself. So I encourage those young bisexuals out there to strive for inner acceptance and validation more than anything else. You'll truly understand your identity at that point which will allow the fun part to really begin... living your best little bisexual life!