Is it okay to be gay

I’m 17 years old with really, really religious parents. It’s always been drilled into my head by my family that I should never be in love with the same sex, but I do find attraction in the same sex.

I feel horrible because I love my family, and they love me for what I’ve achieved so far, but I’m worried that they will be terribly dissatisfied with me if I were to ever say anything about my curiosity in my sexuality. My church also loves me very much, and I’d hate to see them disgusted in me too. I was always lead to believe that homosexuality was wrong, but now I want to experience it.

I don’t know what to do. My parents are terribly homophobic…. Is it possible to change your sexual orientation to become straight again? If not, is it truly okay for me to be gay?