So, let's say you have always been identified as straight, and you love sex with men for the most part. But maybe in college you had some hot above-the-waist make out sessions with female friends at a party, or you have occasionally fantasized about women you know or women you have seen (or maybe female celebs like Angelina Jolie or Kate Winslet or Halle Berry). Does being curious about having sex with woman make you a lesbian or bisexual?
 
No. But it does make you bi-curious. And admitting you are bi-curious is a step towards exploring your sexual options and possibly expanding your sexual horizons. Keep in mind that exploring sex with women may lead you to all sorts of undiscovered emotional horizons as well as sexual ones, too!
 
Our society has made lots of inroads towards accepting many different lifestyles, but some of us still do not feel prepared to stand up to any prejudice we might experiences if we decided to explore outside the bounds of our heterosexual identity. But can it really be healthy to deny your own sexual and emotional urges, too?

First things first: is there anyone in your life you are attracted to? Do you think there is any chance she may share your feelings? Or, if she does, would she be willing to explore these feelings knowing it might adversely affect your friendship? (This is always a risk with any sexual encounter with friends, regardless of orientation) You might want to try and "feel her out" (no pun intended) and see where she is at. Invite her over for drinks and snacks and a movie night and have a selection of videos available that include some steamy lesbian sex, like Henry and June, The Hunger, Bound, Y Tu Mama Tambien, or My Summer of Love. Note her reactions during key scenes: does she seem embarrassed? Or turned on? Try making a comment like "God, if I was gay I think I'd wanna do Uma too!" or "Catherine Deneuve has got to be the sexiest woman alive." This might lead the conversation to things like "Have you ever....?" and who knows what might happen? Keep a clear head, though; a couple of glasses of wine may loosen your tongues and free your inhibitions, but if you get drunk you (or she) might be tempted to just blame the encounter on that.
 
If you would rather not have a sexual encounter with a friend, what about an acquaintance? If you have lesbian friends, the thing to do might be to invite them over and ask them to bring some of their single friends to a small dinner party. They may wonder what's up, and if you have a trustworthy relationship with them you might let them know you want to possibly meet a woman to explore your sexual possibilities.   
 
If this sounds too upclose and personal for you, or if you'd rather not reveal your exploration to your friends, there is also the option of trying to meet someone through the personal ads. Plenty of online personals cater specifically to bi-curious women, or women who think they may be lesbian but have not experienced it fully yet.
 
Try the following websites:   
 
Grrlz on Grrlz:
for Girls who Like Girls and the Curious...

BWCA (Bi Women's Cultural Alliance):
This is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, drug-free group!
   
Bi and Bi-Inclusive Groups Worldwide:
A great resource with many local international listings!
 
Bi the Way...
Another terrific resource with lots of networking links and information!