Ace discourse: I identified as ace (asexual) for several years and still am somewhere on the aromant
Ace discourse: I identified as ace (asexual) for several years and still am somewhere on the aromantic spectrum. I’ve gone though different views on the “are aces queer?” question. I’m seeing this discussion ebb and flow in the community as time goes by. Recently, I’ve witnessed surprisingly heated debates about it - leading to some friends being outcast from groups. Frankly, I find that it boils down to a series of questions on how we relate to one another as queer people. One of the largest surveys on asexuals found only a slim minority identified as “part of the LGBT community.” Perhaps this is because of these exclusionary debates, perhaps it’s because the identification isn’t needed. Additionally, asexuality is about how much one experiences attraction, not who they’re attracted to. On the other hand, there is a historical precedent for asexuals being stigmatized and pathologized similarly to other queer people (especially men). Including asexuality -particularly straight asexuals- would change the definition of sexual orientation itself. And this might be a good thing as our community continues to expand (gay agenda, anyone?). I’m excited to see where these discussions go as we continue to unravel this web of gender and sexuality we’re all tangled in. What do you think about inclusion of asexuals in the queer and trans community? -- source link
#asexual#aromantic