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Understanding Learn More We’ve only just skimmed the surface of Attraction what there is to learn about is a type of attraction to and aromanticism. If you want to another person that involves a sexual discover more, our online resources are interest toward them. This is distinct from a fantastic place to start. romantic attraction, which typically involves a desire to form a romantic relationship acesandaros.org/learn with someone.

Many aromantic people identify with a that describes the pattern Get Involved of sexual attraction they experience — for example, a person could be aromantic and bisexual.

Similarly, many asexual people identify with a that describes their AND pattern of romantic attraction.

The following chart, based on the 2016 Asexual Community Survey, shows what percentage of the asexual community identifies with each romantic orientation. Across the country, you’ll find dozens of asexual and aromantic communities 30% aromantic aromantic providing support, resources, and social 14% grayromantic spectrum spaces. Getting involved with these identities 15% demiromantic communities can be a great way for 18% heteroromantic people to meet others like them and to find comfort in their identities. 8% homoromantic 24% /polyromantic These are just Our online map can help you connect 19% biromantic some of the many with communities in your area. 25% questioning identities people use!

acesandaros.org/groups Likewise, aromantic people identify with a wide variety of sexual orientations. Identities Relationships Issues Asexual is a term that people use to identify There are many different Asexual and aromantic people face a wide UPPORT their lack of sexual attraction or desire. elements that make up S range of issues, and many of these stem relationships. from invalidation and a lack of awareness. It can be useful to think of asexuality as being relationship one end of a spectrum that shows how often element I didn’t even learn the word A & JA importance IAR LEN someone experiences sexual attraction. K UAL FRIEN “aromantic” until I was 37! AS DS C C RT OMM O IT In any relationship, some Never experiences PP M U E S N When I came out to my sexual attraction T elements are prioritized partner as asexual, they said ( R while others are left out. asexual) O

M X they could “fix me” with . A E N S Regularly experiences C For example, these casual sexual attraction E friends don’t prioritize The gray area OT ER H in their relationship People never believe that I am happy being single. In the middle, we find agray area where SE & CALE JO COUP B people sit close enough to asexuality that LE C As these fictional examples RT OMM Often, someone’s other identities they might identify with that community even O IT PP M U E (such as their race, , age, or disability) show, relationships can S N though they still experience sexual attraction T take a variety of forms. No will shape the challenges they experience. in some situations. Demisexual and gray- R two relationships will look O asexual are some identities people use to M A X E exactly the same. N S C My friends told me that my identity describe this experience. E OTHER didn’t matter because “disabled people & RAVE NIA N UAL PARTN can’t have sex anyway.” EX ER S C S Aromantic is a term that people use to A RT OMM Asexual and aromantic O IT PP M identify their lack of romantic attraction. U E S N people may leave sex When I came out to my , T or romance out of their

R they told me I would grow out of it. Similar to asexuality, aromanticism sits on one O relationships and instead M A X E end of a spectrum of romantic attraction, with N S prioritize other elements. C identities like grayromantic and demiromantic E As a Black , I am often THER T falling somewhere in the middle. IKA & ERRY sexualized by others. People don’t M NTIC PART MA NE O C R believe me when I say I’m asexual. R RT OMM S Regularly experiences A O IT Never experiences A relationship isn’t any PP M U E S N romantic attraction romantic attraction less important simply T Supporting asexual and aromantic

(aromantic) because it lacks sex, R O people begins with listening to their unique M romance, or any other X A E N S experiences, respecting their identities, and element. C The gray area E continuing to learn more. OTHER