It’s asexual awareness week and it’s important to bring the topic into the mainstream. Over the past few years asexuality has started to receive attention but it’s still generally a misunderstood topic. For this reason and more we raise awareness for Asexual related issues October 19th to October 25th during Asexual Awareness Week. To clear things up before we even go further on this topic here is the definition from Urban Dictionary,
a person who is not interested in or does not desire sexual activity, either within or outside of a relationship. asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the willful decision to not act on sexual feelings. asexuals, while not physically sexual-type folks, are none the less quite capable of loving, affectionate, romantic ties to others.
I used Urban Dictionary because it’s more in depth and describes it well. Don’t worry it has been fact checked.
If you water it down, asexuality really just means lacking sexual attraction. So somebody who is asexual will never feel sexually attracted to somebody but rather romantically or emotionally attracted.
Today I am just going to take the time, in celebration of asexual awareness week to clear up some misconceptions regarding asexuality:
Asexuality and celibacy are not the same thing. Asexual is sexual attraction somebody feels or an orientation meanwhile celibacy is a choice that a person makes for whatever reason be it moral or religious.
People assume asexual people have a hormonal imbalance or they have experienced abuse and are against sex now. Neither of these points are true, although just for the record is an asexual has experienced abuse their struggles shouldn’t be discounted.
You can’t “sex-up” an asexual. Like the age old problem with straight guys thinking they can turn lesbians you can’t turn an asexual by being super sexy. They are who they are.
Asexuality is not a “straight only” issue. Asexuality comes in many forms. You can be an asexual female attracted to females or a straight asexual. It can go hand in hand with other sexual orientations. Also just in case I haven’t cleared this up enough already asexuality is not a phase.
Make sure to include asexuals in the LGBT community they deserve visibility! Happy Asexual Awareness Week!
