Word of the Gay: "Leather Spinster"

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

Word of the Gay: "AVENite"

An "AVENite" is a member of the Asexual Visibility Education Network an online forum and website dedicated to the asexual community and allies.

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.

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.

Web Spotlight: Asexual Meetups

Asexual Meetups is a place to find groups, members and those interested in meeting with others who have little to no sexual desire.

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.

Blog Spotlight: Asexuality

Asexuality on Live Journal is an opportunity for people to discuss living without sex or sexuality. It is a forum for all experiences ranging from some to little or no attraction at all, and for asexuals who have romantic relationships.

Word of the Gay: "Not Interested Model"

The "not interested model" is a simplistic way to explain asexuality to people who have no background understanding lack of sexual attraction and that asexuals are not interested in sex.

Asexual Pride Video at SF Pride Parade

For all those who couldn't attend but wanted to see firsthand what asexual pride looks like, this is the event that occured last Sunday in San Francico. The event started off with a BBQ and cake (of course) meetup and ended with the first ever asexual pride march in the U.S. May this be the start of a massive movement, with every pride parade including our asexual brothers, and sisters.

Word of the Gay: "Functionally Asexual"

Someone who is "functionally asexual" does not perform sexual acts, and while the term asexual can describe them due to lack of sexual behavior, their feelings may still be sexual while they choose to abstain from sexual activities for a host of reasons.

Asexual FAQ's Pamphlet by AANZ

AANZ offers us a brochure answering frequently asked questions about asexuality. What is it, why does it matter, and how can you get involved in coming out or being an ally.





To learn more, or see the text directly check out the Asexuality Aotearoa New Zealand homepage.

Web Spotlight: A Life

A Life is a weekly podcast about asexuality and asexuals. The show is open to topic suggestions or listener questions and is always welcoming towards people who want to come on as a guest or perhaps even a regular panelist.

Word of the Gay: "The Fourth Way"

"The Fourth Way" is a term used to describe the asexual orientation. They do not meet the sexual criteria for gay, straight, or bisexual, hence are "the fourth way"

True Life: I'm An Asexual?

MTV a pop-culture station with music, and reality tv shows for those in the teen/young adult age bracket has a program called True Life, which is a documentary series covering a host of topics.

Topics range from heroine addicts, to gays getting married, and showcase the lives and stories of young people throughout the country going through an interesting struggle.

The show has been very inclusive of LGBT people but has yet to cover the topic of asexuality, as mentioned by some people on the asexuality forums.

Use MTV's True Life Topic Suggestions board to suggest a show advancing asexual visibility.

Word of the Gay: "Pan-Romantic Asexual"

A "pan-romantic asexual" is someone who is romantically attracted to people irrespective of their sex and/or gender, but has no sexual interest in partners.