#asexual orientation

Asexual Awareness Week Oct.25

For some asexual people, sex isn’t on the agenda, or it’s not a particularly important part of a relationship, and they seek out relationships with people who share their priorities and interests. Such relationships are sometimes dismissively referred to as friendships or deep platonic connections, but their nature is more complicated than that. It’s possible to experience romantic attraction without sexual interest, to have a marriage without sex, to establish a rich relationship in which sex plays a minimal or nonexistent role. Not wanting to have sex, in these cases, isn’t something that can be explained away. Much like sexual people, asexual people aren’t broken or wrong because of their orientation, and however they came about it – the “born this way” debate rages on – it’s valid, and can be empowering. Identifying with asexuality helps people find their communities, and to reach out to people who live like them.