On the one hand I get it because like how can you realize that you’re attracted to one sex and not the other when attraction is such a full-body experience? 

Actually, this is EXACTLY the point! I think trauma survivors are often so out-of-tune with their own bodies-- a protective mechanism to lesson pain associated with abuse-- that they wouldn't even notice a bunch of other bodily sensations, be it attraction sensations or even simply the sensation of hunger.

And (2) that we as late bloomers are not new to our feelings of same-sex attraction. We are new to recognizing the full extent of the pattern, letting ourselves feel those feelings, putting a name to them, and internalizing them or to being in a position where we can finally accept those feelings even if we recognized them before.

EXACTLY. This is a really important point to verbalize, and actually, one that I thought was so obvious that I didn't think it needed verbalizing-- but now you mention it, I realize some people may have totally missed it.

You mention acceptance vs. recognition of feelings. That is also an important distinction to make. I actually did have very brief moments of recognition, at least 3-4 times throughout my growing up (once even when I was like 8), but I was very fast at burying/avoiding those thoughts til I forgot them.

I had a poor sense of self, and I was always being gaslit, and so I gaslit myself, and treated myself poorly generally. I also knew early on that I would have to make trade-offs in my life. I’ve never believed that I could “have it all.” 

Dude, I struggle with this SO much. I recently got what is basically a dream job for me, and am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I can actually have that + my hobbies + actual friends who care about me + a bunch of other shit.. it's overwhelming in a way, to be honest. Good problems to have, though.

if you count the double dates where I went because it was my female friend who I actually liked who kept trying to set me up with guys lol.

Oh man, RIP haha.

I'll message you! :)