Asexual Awareness Week, an international campaign to educate individuals about asexual, aromantic, demisexual, grey-asexual experiences, runs this week form October 26-November 1.
About Asexuality: http://t.co/bLolfBsML6#asexual#asexuality#aaw14pic.twitter.com/EkxQOlZvbW
— Asexuality Archive (@AceArchive) October 26, 2014
People who are included under the asexual umbrella (also know as the ace umbrella) may identify as:
- Asexual - someone who doesn't experience sexual attraction
- Aromantic - lacking interest in or desire for romantic relationships.
- Demisexual - lacking sexual attraction towards any person unless one becomes deeply emointionally or romantically connected with a specific person.
- Grey-asexual - experiencing sexual attraction but not strongly enough to act on them.
- Or something else entirely
During Asexual Awareness Week, members and allies of the asexual community hold events with the purpose of educating the public about asexual people's identities, advocating representation and visibility, and more.
Using #AAW14 and other hashtags, folks around the world are taking to social media this week, sharing their experiences and information about the asexual community.
#Flawless#aaw14pic.twitter.com/WENtt7Stlf
— allu (@AlextheFinn) October 29, 2014
A High Five for everyone :) #aaw14#asexualawarenessweek#asexualitypic.twitter.com/jonDp1Sn66
— Defekthexe (@die_defekthexe) October 29, 2014
Happy Assexuality Awareness Week, watch this great documentary to learn more. #aaw14http://t.co/JYue2S0iSu
— Jon Cornejo (@Jon_Cornejo) October 27, 2014
It's #AsexualAwarenessWeek! Celebrate with us, and learn more about #asexuality. http://t.co/Rk0O6ZynUepic.twitter.com/VNQAdkiLeb
— Sex, Etc. (@Sexetc) October 27, 2014
While learning about asexuality is something that should be done year round, this week is the perfect opportunity to get started. Courtesy of What is Asexuality, here are some basic facts to get you started:
- Asexuality is not an abstinence pledge. (Although there may be abstinent aces.)
- Asexuality is not a synonym for celibacy. (There are celibate aces and promiscuous aces and aces everywhere in between.)
- Asexuality is not a gender identity. (Although there may be trans, non-binary, or genderqueer aces.)
- Asexuality is not a disorder. (Although there may be aces with physical or mental conditions.)
- Asexuality is not a choice. (Although not every ace is "born that way".)
- Asexuality is not a hormone imbalance. (Although there may be aces with hormone issues.)
- Asexuality is not a fear of sex or relationships. (Although there may be aces who are afraid of or otherwise dislike sex or relationships.)
Asexuality is often stigmatized and looked over as an identity, making people who are asexual feel marginalized by both mainstream culture and the LGBT community, according to a recent article in The Huffington Post that says:
It's not just media culture that's alienating; it's friends and family, too. Even queer friends that I have who still aren't in the hetero status-quo talk about sex with their partners, their Facebook feeds constantly show pictures and status updates of weddings, engagements, babies and dates. When I'm out with friends, there's usually at least one person remarking on the attractiveness of people walking by. There's something reminding me almost constantly, every day, that I'm not normal, that I'm not a part of this.
GLAAD celebrates Asexual Awareness Week to amplify the voices of those who identify as asexual, aromantic, demisexual, and grey-asexual to be able to live the life they love. Sharing this post is just one way you can participate in the social media campaign.
— nicole torres (@nikole_tee) October 29, 2014
Learn more at aceweek.org.