ughsocialjustice:

*Can I resubmit this just real quick? I made this post a few months ago and submitted it but it seems like some new people may need to see it.*

If I may, I can make an attempt to clear up a bit of confusion on some asexuality terms. The picture is for aid mainly so people can understand exactly what is meant by sexual and romantic attraction. Credit goes to the lovely artist at http://secondlina.deviantart.com/ who made it.

Asexual - When a person experiences little to no sexual attraction. Sometimes these people are called aces. People who do experience sexual attraction at times may refer to themselves as grey-asexual, grey-ace, or grey-A.

Asexuality does not necessarily mean that a person does not have a sex drive. It also does not mean that a person has no desire for sexual contact with another person. All asexuality has to do with is a lack of sexual attraction to other people. Some asexuals have very high sex drives. Then again, others have none. Some masturbate, others don’t. Some have sex for intimacy with a partner, some have sex because they enjoy it, and some have no desire to ever have sex. 

Demisexual - When a person needs to feel an emotional connection with another person before they will experience sexual attraction. Many consider this a form of grey-asexuality.

Being demi generally means that a person does not experience sexual attraction until after an emotional bond of some sort has been made. For different demi people, this can mean different things. Some feel emotional connections early and may quickly experience sexual attraction after talking to a person, others may need to have a romantic relationship before they’ll begin to experience sexual attraction.

This is not the same as not being able to have sex with a person you don’t love. This is not the same as not being able to have one-night-stands. This is not directing any sexual desire toward a person until after there is an existing emotional bond.

A lot of people have heard of being heteromantic or panromantic or one of those others, but it seems many people don’t realize it’s possible to be aromantic.

Aromantic - When a person experiences little to no romantic attraction. Sometimes this is called being arom. People who experience romantic attraction at times may call themselves grey-aromantic or grey-arom.

The biggest thing about aromanticism is that being aromantic does not automatically make a person asexual. There are plenty of aromantic sexual people just like there are plenty of romantic asexual people.

Also, being aromantic does not always mean a person never wants to be in a relationship of some sort. Some do want a life partner of some sort. It’s just maybe they see a relationship differently than a romantic person.

I’d suggest anyone who wants to find out more check out the Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN) at asexuality.org and their forum which I’m sad to say is currently down for maintenance and will be down for a few more days.