Menu
glossary of sex-positive terms
Asexuality is a term used to describe individuals who do not experience sexual attraction or desire. Asexual people have a lack of sexual attraction and do not feel the need to act on it. This does not mean that they are unable to form meaningful relationships with others, as many asexual people still enjoy companionship and can form close bonds with their friends and family.
Asexuality is different from celibacy, which is an intentional choice to abstain from sex. People who identify as asexual are often referred to as “ace” which stands for “asexual” or “asexual spectrum”. It is important to note that even within the asexual community there is significant diversity among individuals; some may still experience romantic attraction without sexual feelings, others may experience low levels of libido, while some might be completely uninterested in either type of attraction or intercourse.
There has been much confusion surrounding what precisely constitutes being an ace person since it isn’t widely discussed in society at large, but the key takeaway here should be that regardless of their relationship status or degree of interest in physical intimacy every individual should be respected for who they are and validated in their own identity. Being ace doesn’t have any bearing on someone's worth as an individual; it simply means they don't feel sexually attracted towards other people - just like heterosexuals don't usually feel attracted towards persons of the same sex and vice versa.
The understanding around this topic has come a long way over the years due largely in part by increased visibility amongst media outlets and internet spaces dedicated specifically for such conversations; however more progress can still be made so that everyone feels comfortable being open about any kind differences they may possess without fear or judgement from those around them.
