ASEXUALITY 101

GRAY-ASEXUAL (OR GRAYSEXUAL): A person who lies on the spectrum Asexuality is a sexual between asexual and z-sexual*. orientation. Sexuality is a *z-sexual describes those who do not identify on the asexual spectrum. The term spectrum and the umbrella was coined in order to convey the idea of a term for individuals who identify spectrum (from A to Z) and not to set ace in toward the asexual end of the opposition to non-ace, which would imply spectrum is ace. that “non-ace” was the default. Additionally, within the ace Most who identify as gray-asexual community many aces have tend to lean more toward the disabilities, are neurodivergent, asexual end of the spectrum as and/or have survived sexual opposed to an inclination to any assault. Some aces come other orientation on the spectrum to identify with the ROMANTIC ATTRACTION: asexual spectrum via describes how one these experiences, is drawn to others in and this does not a strictly “romantic” make their identity way. As with sexual any less valid than attraction, people any other sexual who experience identity. romantic attraction often do so to people of The following are examples (a) particular gender(s). That of ace identities: pattern of romantic attraction is called romantic orientation. Asexual: a person who experi- Each sexual orientation that ences little or no sexual attraction exists has a corresponding to anyone, and/or does not expe- romantic orientation, and for rience desire for sexual contact. many people, these two align (for example, many bisexual people are also biromantic). However, DEMISEXUAL: a person who this is not always the case, experiences sexual attraction to especially among ace people. someone only after forming a The terminology for discussing close emotional bond with that romantic orientation came from person. They may also identify as the ace community’s need to gray-asexual (or graysexual). differentiate between these two types of attraction.

of certain racialized racialized certain of and how you can help raise awareness of it. of awareness raise help can you how and

to learn more about the asexual spectrum spectrum asexual the about more learn to and desexualization desexualization and

www.asexualoutreach.org visit visit

the hypersexualization hypersexualization the

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interacting within ace-friendly ace-friendly within interacting

other forms of oppression oppression of forms other Visit asexualoutreach.org to learn more about the the about more learn to asexualoutreach.org Visit

their lived experiences, and and experiences, lived their environments can perpetuate perpetuate can environments

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SOURCE: HTTPS://ASEXUALCENSUS.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM/2014/11/2014CENSUSPRELIMINARYREPORT.PDF SOURCE:

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AROMANTIC: a person who who person a “

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romantic attraction, attraction, romantic aromantic spectrum identities: spectrum aromantic Many aces will experience experience will aces Many The following are example of of example are following The “