Sharon Gaffka hit our screens in style on the seventh series of Love Island last year, and has since given us all the tea on how it really is in the villa.
Shortly after her time in the villa, she came out as bisexual, revealing that she opened up to fellow contestant Faye Winter about her sexuality in scenes that were not broadcast.
Since then, she has also used her platform to campaign on key causes, including raising awareness of drink spikes after she herself got a nail.
Sharon unveiled today Metro.co.uk‘s LGBTQ + painful aunt.
She is on hand to give advice to one reader on how to tell someone that they are not romantically interested without revealing their sexuality.
Dear Sharon,
I recently came out to myself as gay, and I want to explore aspects of my sexuality. Other than telling some good friends, I have not really told many people yet because I do not feel ready. I was recently questioned by someone of the opposite sex, whom I have been craving in the past. How can I tell them I’m not romantically interested while not disclosing my sexuality?
Dear Anonymous,
First of all, congratulations on the outcome! Discovering who you are is one of life’s most confusing experiences, despite your age! Accepting that you are not heterosexual is great, so getting out, even to your friends, is not easy. I am proud of you!
I think it’s important to reinforce to anyone else that you’re doing things on YOUR terms! More importantly, when you are ready, you do not owe anyone an explanation. Ever!
I honestly think the best policy in this scenario is, what you can do without disclosing your sexuality. I’m unsure about your relationship, but my advice would be to tell them that you do not see them romantically or that you only see them as a friend and will not want to endanger them. In my hetero-romantic relationships I have wasted time on people I am not interested in because I am afraid of hurting their feelings, the older I got, the more I realized 1) by doing so, I prolong the rejection and 2) I spend time on something that does not serve me. They may be initially shocked by the rejection, especially if they had a suspicion that you might have been lusting after them before, but they will overcome it!
We need to stop fearing to take control of our own romantic lives, now is your time to fully discover yourself and just as importantly your time to have fun! Apologies like you!
Good luck and lots of love! xx
Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride
This year is 50 years of Pride, so it just seems fitting that Metro.co.uk goes above and beyond in our ongoing LGBTQ + support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates everything Pride celebrates, but also shares stories, time take to reflect and cultivate community awareness this Pride month.
And we have some amazing names on board to help us too. From a list of well-known guest editors who take over the site for a week that includes roof rinder, Nicholas Adams, Peter Tatchell, Kimberly Hart Simpson, John White, Anna Richardson and Dr Ranjas well as keeping Sir Ian McKellen a Drag Race stars The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Tannie Kofi to offer their insights.
During Pride Month, which runs from 1 – 30 June, Metro.co.uk will also support Kyiv Pride, a Ukrainian charity that is forced to work harder than ever to protect the rights of the LGBTQ + community during times of conflict, and the Youth Homelessness Charity AKT. To find out more about their work, and what you can do to support them, click here.
For Metro.co.uk‘s latest Pride coverage, click here.
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Love Island 2022 latest
Kiss goodbye to your social life – Love Island is back to dominate your evenings, with the new series promising more drama than ever before.
For all the latest updates, visit Metro.co.uk‘s Love Island page.
