Asexuality: Sexuality type we don’t talk about often

Sexuality type we don’t talk about

Words and producer: Issey Gogoll

Gemma Gemma Australian Asexuals Australian Asexuals

What is asexuality?

The Asexuality Spectrum

Graysexual: They experience sexual attraction rarely and/or at a low intensity. They don’t experience sexual attraction unless it’s reciprocated. They only feel sexually attracted to someone when they have an emotional bond with the person. Demisexual: Reciprosexual: There’s a wide variety of identities that fall along this spectrum. Some of them include:

What are the common misconceptions about asexuality?

"Asexuals don't want relationships." "They're prudes." "You're not asexual. You've just had a bad sexual experience." "But what made you become asexual?"

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"The amount of times that I've talked about it [sex and consent] with aces and have had to work out: 'is it romantic attraction?' or 'is it just platonic?'"

Sexuality type we don’t talk about

What is asexuality?

Asexual people, also known as aces, experiences little to no sexual attraction. There are sex-repulsed aces. Sex-indifferent aces.

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It's a spectrum...

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It’s a sexual orientation just like any other in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

What is asexuality?

The Asexuality Spectrum

The Asexuality Spectrum

What are the common misconceptions about asexuality?

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What are the common misconceptions about asexuality?

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Are asexuals comfortable talking about sex?

Are asexuals comfortable talking about sex?

"It really is a varied experience."

It varies from ace-to-ace, Gemma says. Some aces are ok with talking about sex. Others don't feel comfortable talking about sex and or relationships at all.

"The amount of times that I've talked about it [sex and consent] with aces and have had to work out: 'is it romantic attraction?' or 'is it just platonic?'"

In fact, asexual people are much more well-versed than you might think, when it comes to talking about sex and consent.

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So, how important is sex to you?

So, how important is sex to you?

"I've had people try to bargain sex out of me. And I'm just never doing that again. It's not worth my sanity. I end up feeling guilty and it's just sh*t."

It obviously comes down to personal preferences, but sex is not important to Gemma, at all. In fact, it's "off the table" in most circumstances.

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Do you feel represented?

Do you feel represented?

Including the 'A' in the LGBTQIA+ acronym is probably one of the most important things people can do, Gemma says. It does not stand for 'ally' - it represents asexual and aromantic people.

"We have representation, but it's more the representation that a passerby is going to see so eventually asexuality becomes as well-known a term as homosexual, transgender or intersex."

Mark your calendars, folks

Mark your calendars, folks

International Asexuality Day is April 6, which is a worldwide event dedicated to asexual advocacy, celebration, and education. There's also Ace Week, which falls between October 23-29!

"We'd really like it to be included in everybody's pride calendars, just like other days for different orientations and gender representations are."

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