I always ended up more affectionate and attracted to other boys near as I can remember. Of course, this became explicit with puberty, where I had to figure out on my own why I wasn't attracted to girls. Initially I figured I was bisexual, but this turned out to not be true either. Sort of like you, I realized in hindsight my feelings for other boys in childhood weren't "normal", and I eventually had to learn to accept it. If I wasn't raised in a religious nutjob household I probably would've figured it out sooner, and without the unfortunate sexual confusion as I kept feeling I was "supposed to" be attracted to women.

Unlike you, however, I had a deep hatred for my "family" as I realized how awful they were as people. I didn't have any sadness or feelings beyond simply knowing I could not let them find out. So I largely grew up keeping to myself until I moved out. I've had a few relationships since then, of course, in the ensuing decades. I'm entirely comfortable with it. The only period of discomfort I had was as a teenager where I was rather sensitive to other people adopting my family's own ridiculous religious views.