Being around other sexually weird people helped me realize that those "ways a human can love" existed, too. And that it was OK to pursue them, no really, because there are people who're making it work. When I look at the various kink communities, they all seem kind of ridiculous, but at the same time there's a comfort in that, that other people are doing ridiculous things (and it's not like the forms of sexuality that aren't considered kink didn't look ridiculous, either).

This is super true and one of the most useful things about people being open with their sexualities/kinks/what have you, I think.

Thanks for sharing how some of this stuff works for you!