I practice safer sex. I have only one sexual partner for whom I have very strong feelings and an immense amount of trust. I am faithful to my partner, despite the pressures of being an18-year-old girl on her way to college.

I am “taboo.”

Why? Because my sexual partner—the person I love and cherish and would do anything for—is a girl.

It doesn’t matter how much we care for each other, how faithful we are or how long we waited to have sex. We are automatically “taboo” simply by being gay. “That sort of thing” isn’t talked about. It’s not acknowledged.

So, how do I benefit from a sex education class that only applies to heterosexual sex? I’ve heard about how conception and pregnancy work more times than I can count. I know the ins and outs of a penis. I know how to use a condom. The problem is that these lessons cannot be applied to my life. Even lessons about emotional health are limited to heterosexual couples.

So, where do I come in? When do I get my sex education? What sexually transmitted diseases am I at risk for? How do I protect myself? How is the emotional aspect of my relationship different? Is it even different at all?

I could never ask these questions in class, unless I want to be harassed, ridiculed and ultimately rejected. A teacher in a so-called sex ed class won’t answer these questions. These questions are considered radical, rude and wrong.

I am “taboo.”

Amanda, an 18-year-old New Jersey resident, is a weekly winner of Sex, Etc.’s recent I’M TABOO Writing Contest. Click here to check out all the teen entries. Want to write a story for Sex, Etc.? Click here!