Word of the Gay: "Leather Spinster"

A "leather spinster" is a happily unmarried heterosexual or asexual woman who feels no desire for a mate.

Join Activists Creating the First Ever Asexual Flag!

Asexual activists and allies over at the Asexual Visibility Education Network are engaging in thought provoking discussion and debate about what the future symbol of the asexual movement should look like. While there has never been an official symbol for asexuality, some of the common asexual pride images used have been a grey triangle, a shaded heart, a slice of cake, and an ace card to name a few.

As asexuality is becoming increasingly visible and discussed as part of a variation within human sexuality there is a growing need for the asexual community to rally around their own symbol of pride. Help make asexy history by engaging in the decision making process.

'Hot Pieces of Ace' - New Asexual YouTube Channel

The asexual (ace) community now has a new YouTube called Hot Pieces of Ace. It is a collaboration channel designed to help the asexual community in any way imaginable. Videos will be posted every weekday about a weekly topic suggested by you (the audience) in order to help those in need of advice, intellectual stimulation, a human voice, and/or another opinion.

All asexuals have until May 1st, 2010 11:59 P.M. PST to respond with a video response.

H/T to Asexy Beast.

Word of the Gay: "Nonlibidoist"

A "nonlibidoist" is a type of asexual who has never experienced a sex drive.

Open Forum: Does the Kama Sutra Address Asexual Orientation?

The Kama Sutra an ancient Hindu text considered to be a manual on sexual behavior has long been studied and revered for its breakthroughs in the field of human sexuality. Upon closer examination it appears that there are sections that speak to what we quite possibly today call asexuality or grey-a that may have been ignored by readers with a sexual perspective.

The Kama Sutra recognizes that just as sexuality falls along a spectrum and some are gay, bi, or straight, that sexual desire falls along a spectrum as well. There are nine kinds of unions described based on the level of sexual desire of an individual.

There are those labeled "small", "middling", or "intense" to describe their level of sexual desire and interest.

"A man is called a man of small passion whose desire at the time of sexual union is not great, whose semen is scanty, and who cannot bear the warm embraces of the female.

Those who differ from this temperament are called men of middling passion, while those of intense passion are full of desire" (Sacred Texts).

The text then goes on to discuss the length of time a person sustains themselves sexually indicating that the verses above are not about the length of the sexual act but merely the desire and intensity of the behavior.

All people who are sexually involved find that there are times they are more desiring of sex than others. Is the Kama Sutra referring only to periods of time that people are not as sexually inclined, or may the authors have been speaking to those who are to some degree asexual, or quite possibly both?

Web Spotlight: The A-sylum

The A-sylum is a message board for the asexual community to converse on a range of topics.

Blog Spotlight: Edge of Everywhere

Edge of Everywhere is an asexual feminist's perspectives on identity, relationships and more.

Open Forum: Asexuality and the Sex Positive Movement

The sex positive movement embraces a variety of social and philosophical attitudes towards sexuality. The sex positive movement unlike the dominant framework of organized religion does not pass judgment on various forms of sexuality including homosexuality, transsexuality, BDSM, polyamory, and masturbation and instead accepts individual sexual freedoms.

While accepting and promoting various forms of sexuality is certainly positive it calls into question whether the movement is embracing of asexuality, those who have little to no interest in sex at all. In contrast to the abstinence dogma spread by mainsteam religion, asexuals are not chaste because they feel it is immoral but simply have a low level of sexual desire. Many asexuals consider themselves to be sex-positive even if they themselves abstain from or have a minute degree of sexual activity in their own personal lives but others feels that there is no place for them in this movement and society that idealizes the concept of sexuality.

What do you think? Is asexuality accepted and embraced as part of the individual sexual freedoms in the sex positive movement or is it ignored or bashed in some fashion?

Campaign for "A" Visibility

The asexual movement is dependent on spreading accurate information about what it means to be asexual. In the face of so much misinformation people often think that asexuality doesn't exist, is a psychological problem, or think asexuality only refers to self reproduction in the animal kingdom.

Reasons why visibility is important:

1. It is academically important to understand that there exists a spectrum when it comes to sexuality and some have little to no sexual desire.

2. People who are or know of someone who is asexual should understand that is is natural and that there are others like them experiencing these feelings.

3. Asexuality is a healthy orientation, society forcing sexuality on people who are asexual may have devastating psychological consequences.

If you are asexual or an ally please make a conscious effort to create awareness by writing an op-ed, posting in a forum to discuss asexuality, handing out a pamphlet, or by coming out to someone.

Please share any ways in which you are participating by making asexual awareness a reality.

Happy Asexuality Visibility and Education Day

October 12th is Asexuality Visibility and Education Day (AVED), forum members over at AVEN have declared this day to be a day to come out and discuss asexuality at your school, workplace, or community center.

The official Asexuality Day is May 29th, but this second asexy holiday was created so that it is more effective for students to reach out on college campuses.

Resources:

Asexuality Visibility Education Network

A-Positive

Listing of asexual forums, blogs, social networks, and video sites

AVENtube - Asexual Videos

So whether you are asexual, or an ally what will you be doing to create awareness about this often hidden sexual orientation?

Blog Spotlight: Asexy Buddhist

Asexy Buddhist is all about asexual Buddhist dialectic as well art, science, and philosophy.

Word of the Gay: "Asexual Slang"

"Asexual Slang" are words that have been growing out of the increased movement by asexuals to congregate online and offline. Words describing the identity and growing culture and movement have and are being developed on an ongoing basis.

Asexual Visibility at London Pride on July 4th

Looks like activists in London are taking a hint from the successful and first ever asexual contingent in an American pride parade and don't want to shy away from making some asexual history of their own!

On Saturday July 4th, London will see its first public asexual visibility campaign at the gay pride parade with participants wearing t-shirts and other items to show their support.

The parade starts off at Baker Street at 1pm and proceeds down Oxford Street and Regent Street taking in some of the major sites of London and calls round through Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square.

To network and get more details check out the thread on AVEN.

Blog Spotlight: What Do You Mean By Sex

What do you mean by sex believes that individuals can best describe their respective identities without having to attach any labels to themselves. The blogs author describes themselves as a "polyaffectionate pansensual asexual".

Word of the Gay: "Autosexual"

An "autosexual" is a asexual who can experience sexual pleasure but considers it a private and solitary activity.

The Asexual Flow Chart

A fantastic asexual flow chart to help people who are questioning or undecided about whether they should classify as asexual as well as a tool for people to better understand what the asexual experience is like.



Crossposted via Musings From Outside Normal Boundaries.

Word of the Gay: "Amoeba"

"Amoebas" are biologically asexual organisms, the word has also been appropriated to denote an asexual human.

Response to A-Phobic Article on the Asexual Orientation

In a piece by J.A.T.G.A.B. about asexuality, there are a plethora of flaws and misinformation. This is not a post seeking to rail on a fellow queer blogger, but it would be wrong if we did not seek to correct him on this subject of which he is sadly ill informed.

The sum of the article is about the author being offended at the notion that asexuality can be compared with homosexuality, the article goes on to insist that asexuality is a disability. The post suggests that LGBT activists who have incorporated the "A" into the acronym LGBT are immature, and foolish.

"As far as I'm concerned, this isn't an orientation -- it's a disability."

"Disability" is about lack of ableness, asexuals are fully able, equipped, and biologically capable to engage in sexual activity. It is not a disability, it is an orientation with little to no desire for sexuality. By same token many homosexuals are able to engage in heterosexual sex, it is a lack of desire to do so, this does not render homosexuality a disability. They are both examples of variants of human sexuality.

"I find it deeply offensive to have these "asexuals" comparing themselves to gay people."

Why should it matter? The asexual movement is not comparing itself to gay or transgender people, it is distinct yet offers parallels. Asexuals do not face harassment, or violence for their orientation, they do however struggle as gays do with a coming out process, and a lack of information/resources about their identity.

"It doesn't mean that many people who classify themselves as such don't need counseling and sex therapy."

If someone was sexually active and has lost their libido, had some sort of trauma than they should seek counseling. Asexuality is an orientation, they are completely content with the way they were made, they don't feel the need to undergo "treatment" anymore than gay people should seek to go into "ex-gay" programs which don't work.

To clear up some other statements in the article.

The Asexual Visibility Education Network (AVEN) has had 17,106 members sign up, it would be hard to gauge the number of active forum members. As far as the orientation, scientific studies suggest about 1% the population identifies as asexual.

As far as the man who got divorced and now lives happily in a sexless gay relationship, this does not mean he is repressed. Asexuals can have a romantic attraction, and can also be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Homoromantic asexuals can choose to have a romantic relationship with someone of the same-sex and forego the option to have sex.

Queers United proudly stands by the asexual community and looks forward to continued dialogue, and education about all sexual and gender minorities.

Web Spotlight: Apositive

The Apositive website offers an array of resources for the asexual community and those looking to learn more about the orientation. The website offers a forum for social networking, and a knowledge base with info on the arts, community, media coverage, and research that is relevant to the community.

Word of the Gay: "Asexually Repressed"

"Asexually Repressed" is a new term floating around the asexual community to label someone who is fooling themselves into believing they are interested in sex when indeed they are not.