A drawing of a heart outlined in black, against a pale grey background. The heart is shaded with black, grey, white, purple, light and dark green stripes. (The colors of the Asexual and Aromantic pride flags) Text reads: “AWN CELEBRATES ACE WEEK October 23-29, 2022” In the lower right corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website: awnnetwork.org

6 Facts about Asexuality and Aromanticism

October 19, 2022

Happy Ace Week from Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network! This week, October 23 – 29, 2022, we’re celebrating asexual (ace) and aromantic (aro) identities. Below you’ll find educational graphics and answers to common questions about asexuality and aromanticism. These resources are adapted from aceweek.org.

1. What is Asexuality?

Asexuality means you experience little to no sexual attraction to anyone and/or do not experience desire for sexual contact. Like any other sexual orientation, asexuality isn’t a choice.

Black and purple text against a pale grey background. There is a large rectangular Ace pride flag with a smiley face, with stripes of black, grey, white and purple. Text reads: “WHAT IS ASEXUALITY? Asexuality means you experience little to no sexual attraction to anyone and/or do not experience desire for sexual contact. Like any other sexual orientation, asexuality isn’t a choice. “ In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website awnnetwork.org

2. The asexual umbrella, also known as the asexual spectrum, encompasses several identities related to asexuality.

This includes asexual (or “ace”), demisexual, and gray-asexual, aka “graysexual,” “gray-a,” or “grace.”

A demisexual identity refers to a person who can only experience sexual attraction if a strong emotional bond is present. Although this bond is a prerequisite for attraction, it is not a guarantee that attraction will occur.

A gray-asexual, aka graysexual, identity refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction rarely, only under specific circumstances, without libido/sex-drive, or without enough strength to act on that attraction. This can also describe someone who fluctuates between periods of experiencing sexual attraction and periods of not experiencing sexual attraction.

Illustration and dark text against a pale grey background. A drawing of an umbrella, opened with a grey handle. The umbrella has Ace pride flag colors-black, grey, white and purple. Text reads: “The Asexual Umbrella (also known as the asexual spectrum) asexual (or "ace"), demisexual, gray-asexual or: graysexual, gray-a, or grace. The asexual umbrella encompasses all of the identities related to asexuality.” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website awnnetwork.org.

3. Aromanticism, aka “aro,” is a romantic orientation where a person experiences little to no romantic attraction and/or has little to no desire to form romantic relationships.

Black and green text against a pale grey background. Illustration of a rectangular Aromatic pride flag with a smiley face, which has stripes in black, grey, white, light green and dark green. Text reads: “What is Aromanticism? Aromanticism is a romantic orientation where a person experiences little to no https://acesandaros.org/learn/romantic-attraction-and-romantic-orientations and/or has little to no desire to form romantic relationships.” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website awnnetwork.org.

4. The aromantic umbrella, also known as the aromantic spectrum, encompasses several identities.

This includes aromantic (aka. “aro”), demiromantic, and gray-aromantic, (aka. “grayromantic”).

A demiromantic identity refers to a person who can only experience romantic attraction if a strong emotional bond is present.

Gray-aromantic, aka grayromantic, is often used to describe someone who falls between aromantic and romantic. Some people also use quoiromantic and other labels to express that they experience romantic attraction but that it is nebulous and difficult to identify how that attraction works.

Illustration and text against a pale grey background. Drawing is of an opened umbrella with the Aromantic pride flag stripes in black, grey, white, light green and dark green. Text reads: “The Aromantic Umbrella (also known as the aromantic spectrum) aromantic (or "aro), demiromantic, gray-aromantic or grayromantic. The aromantic umbrella encompasses all of the identities related to aromanticism.” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website awnnetwork.org.

5. Most ace & aro people identify as part of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community.

This can be because ace/aro people may view asexuality/aromanticism as an LGBTQ+ identity itself, because they have another identity that fits under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, or both. According to the 2015 US Trans Survey, 10% of trans people identify as asexual. AWN uses the acronym LGBTQIAP+, which also includes Ace/Aro, in addition to Intersex and Pansexual.

Text and illustration against a pale grey background. At the top half is black text reading: “Most ace & aro people identify as LGBTQ+ / Most ace and aro people identify as LGBTQ+ or queer. This can be because they view asexuality as an LGBTQ+ identity itself, , because they have another identity that fits under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, or both. Some ace and aro people do not consider themselves to be LGBTQ+ but this does not mean ace and aro people should all be excluded from LGBTQ+ communities and organizations.” At the lower half is a drawing of an umbrella, with each band having the color of the Asexual and Aromantic flag colors (black, grey, white, purple, dark green and light green. In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly, above our website http://awnnetwork.org.

6. “Compulsory Sexuality” is harmful to everyone, not just asexual people.

Compulsory sexuality is the pervasive belief that everyone past a certain age can and should want to engage in sexual activity. Compulsory sexuality often defines sexual activity in heterosexual terms; in such instances, it is called “compulsory heterosexuality” and is harmful to aces and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. The idea that everyone can and should have sex invalidates and erases ace identities, along with those who cannot or do not want to have sex for other reasons (and who may also be ace). It further perpetuates the view that aces should not exist and that there is something wrong with them. When it manifests as compulsory heterosexuality, it furthers homophobic and transphobic ideas about gender, sex, and sexuality.

credit: AsexualOutreach.org, “Ace Inclusion Guide for Schools“

If you identify on the asexual spectrum or aromantic spectrum, we want you to know you’re not alone, and we’re proud to have you as part of AWN’s community. If you’re an ally to the ace/aro community, we encourage you to share these resources and educate others about ace/aro identity.

You can find information about online events and in-person events around the world to celebrate ace week at https://aceweek.org/