Asexual Awareness Week (AAW) is an international campaign that seeks to educate about asexual, aromantic, demisexual, and grey-asexual experiences. This year it’s from October 21-27, 2018.
In a world where sex and relationships are everywhere, life for someone who isn’t interested in those things can be very isolating, lonely and distressing.
By raising awareness about asexuality we hope to let people know that they are not alone. We want people to know that asexuality is a valid sexual orientation and not something to be cured. We want to help people feel pride in who they are and to know there are others out there just like them. If more people know about asexuality, then more asexuals can find each other and build communities and lasting relationships from which they can draw comfort and support.
Asexuality 101
What’s an asexual person?
An asexual person is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. Like many sexual identities it can exist on a spectrum. It’s estimated about 1 in 100 people are on the asexual spectrum.
Do asexual people date/have romantic relationships? Wouldn’t that just be a friendship if there is no sex?
Depends on the person. Some asexual people are also aromantic. That means they aren’t interested in dating either. Other people are totally romantic, which means they totally have romantic relationships.
Sex is just one way of expressing romantic love. Sex isn’t necessarily what separates love and friendship: some couples choose to be abstinent yet are romantically involved, and there are people who have sex with no interest in romance. Just as sex can exist without love, love can exist without sex. Romantic love is a feeling and is felt and expressed in different ways by different people. No single way is right or more real than another.
What’s an aromantic?
An aromantic person is someone who doesn’t have romantic attraction to other people but they may still be interested in having sexual relationships.
What’s demisexual?
A demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone.
How about grey-sexual?
As mentioned, asexuality exists on a spectrum. A grey-sexual person falls somewhere between an asexual person and a sexual person on the spectrum.
Looking for support
The Rainbow Resource Centre provides counselling, support and fun youth programs to anyone who is part of the 2STLGBQ+ community.
Find them in Osborne Village (Winnipeg) at 170 Scott St.
Give them a call at 204-474-0212 or Toll-Free: 1-855-437-8523
Check them out online at rainbowresourcecentre.org
Post art by Akysi
