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. Many aces will experience “ The following are example of romantic attraction, aromantic spectrum identities: “even though they do not experience sexual attraction. AROMANTIC: a person who does not experience romantic Like sexuality, romanticism is a attraction to anyone. spectrum. IONS WITHIN T TAT HE EN AC DEMIROMANTIC: a person RI E C O .1% O IC 5 M T .1% M who experiences romantic N 5 A U 2 N M 2 I T attraction to someone only O % Y R % .4 after forming a close emotional 2 1 bond with that person. 1 6 % . 6 8 % . GRAYROMANTIC: often used 9 1 to describe someone who 19 % falls between aromantic and romantic. Some people also use terms like quoiromantic to Heteroromantic Biromantic express that they experience Panromantic Homoromantic romantic attraction but that it is nebulous and difficult to Aromantic Quoiromantic identify how that attraction Others works. SOURCE: HTTPS://ASEXUALCENSUS.FILES.WORDPRESS.COM/2014/11/2014CENSUSPRELIMINARYREPORT.PDF groups, disabilities, etc. INTERSECTING IDENTITIES These difficulties persist in Aces come from different ace spaces, which often do backgrounds and are often not include marginalized members of other marginalized people, just as society is not groups. Because of this, structured to include them there are barriers specific to properly. These exclusionary their lived experiences, and environments can perpetuate interacting within ace-friendlyVisit asexualoutreach.orgother forms of to oppression learn more about the asexualon spectrum top of andthe how difficulties you can help thatraise spaces can become difficult awareness of it. because of the oppressive people already face while systems in place. being ace. Some examples are the hypersexualization visit www.asexualoutreach.org and desexualization to learn more about the asexual spectrum of certain racialized and how you can help raise awareness of it..