How to avoid awkwardness when telling people I'm lesbian?

Hi there, I'm new! I'm a 19 year old female living in the Los Angeles area and I am a little bit shy when telling people I'm lesbian.

A big issue is that people have a hard time telling that I'm gay because I am a lipstick lesbian and LOVE wearing girly clothes, shoes, and shopping in general. I am kind of shy around new people and often get hit on by guys, sometimes I know them and sometimes they are complete strangers. It's hard to tell them I'm lesbian just plain and simple since they sort of just "hint" that they're hitting on me. I try to hint back that I'm not interested, but it is hard to do so without sounding rude.

When they finally ask me on a date or say something that directly implies that they're intersted in me, I tell them I'm gay and they suddenly freak out and make a big scene of it. It makes me uncomfortable and then they start asking even more questions like if I'd be interested in a threesome or something else sex related.

I personally like my relationships to have meaning to them and there is no way I'd ever do anything with a guy EVER or even have sex in front of someone else. But how do I avoid getting these guys to back off without them making me even more shy and uncomfortable but still avoid sounding mean?

Edit: Also, I have a hard time telling if other girls are lesbian or interested in me and vice versa, so I never get hit on by any girls ):

 

Well just let them guys know. right when they start hittin on you, lay it out for them. It won't be that bad, and if they ask for threesomes or other shiz like that tell them you AREN'T that kind of girl and that they should respect that. And if no girls flirt with you, try flirting with them maybe give little hints that you are interested in them. If they are in fact interested in you then they'll pick up on it and hopefully be flirting right back ;D goodluck

 

Yeah, just don't let them lead themselves on.
It shouldn't be your duty; but Hollywood has taught us that everyone is average =S

Just when they first come up "Sorry, I like tits" or "Check out that girl over there, if not, I might"

 

Thanks guys! I'm always very shy, so I have a hard time hitting on girls that I don't know, but I'm going to try my best to be more assertive

 

the good thing for me is that nobody ever hits on me, male or female, so I never have that problem! LMAO!

 

Be upfront with people, don't embarrass them by making them find out after they ask you out, avoid the asking out all together. Guys take your "not interested" as "hard to get" and they try harder.

 

No offense to you boys out there but you can be unbelievably clueless have to just come right out and tell them they stand zero percent chance of winning you over. You might need to tell them sorry boys I only date women and the last thing you would ever want is a threesome with a man because all that porn they watch where ?lesbians? need a man to satisfy them is ridiculous,whatever they've got you can get in plastic TWICE as big ! Let them know how offensive it is to even say that to a young woman You could also tell them you are heterosexually challenged. Tell them just because you are feminine doesn't mean you automatically are available.

As far as how to tell when a woman is interested its all about the body language, some women are bold and they just look you up and down, if her eyes linger just a few seconds too long she's definitely interested or she might be just as shy as you are. Women are very subtle in their cues.