International Asexuality Day

For many years, like most other identities and sexualities in the LGBTQ+ community, asexuality has been misconstructed, medicalized, and overlooked. We are here to change that. Asexuality is considered a type of sexual orientation, or a lack thereof. Asexual people experience a lack of sexual desire towards other people. However, that doesn’t mean that asexual people have no sexuality or sexual feelings whatsoever. Asexual people have hormones like everyone else. Because asexuality is a spectrum, the ways in which sexuality is experienced can vary in different ways for every single person. 

IAD has four major themes: advocacy, celebration, education, and solidarity. These four themes bring to light what all of us can do to help and show support to the asexual community, whether you are an ally or identify as such.

Here’s some tips on how to help:

     1. Advocacy

Advocacy refers to public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. In other words, it means supporting a cause and showing others that you support it. You can do this by posting organizations that support people in the asexual community and that inspire others to donate and do the same. Standing up for marginalized groups who can’t always stand up for themselves is part of being a great advocate. 

     2. Celebration

Asexual people are often told that they are “weird” or “unable to love.” None of those are true. They are cause for celebration. The more diversity, the better! We need to remind people that our differences are what makes us us. Instead of putting someone down for being different, thank them and applaud them for their bravery. 

     3. Education

This one is a very important one as well. In order to show support and celebrate our differences, we need to educate ourselves. These identities in the LGBTQ+ community that some people have not heard of may seem “new,” but asexual people have been around for a while. This is not a disease or a problem, it’s who they are and how they identify. A big step towards ending discrimination is education. 

     4. Solidarity

Solidarity refers to mutual support within a group. Even if you don’t identify or know someone who identifies as asexual, you can still show solidarity and support those in this community. Being an ally is an important part of showing support. If you can, donate to organizations, spread awareness, and post on social media. Your voice matters!

Today, on International Asexuality Day, think about what you could do to show support to the amazing community of asexual people. If you identify as asexual, Pride Palace loves you and thanks you for being you. If you are an ally, we also love you and appreciate you. Happy International Asexuality Day, Pride Palace family! 

Written by Paloma Pinto