#beingaromanticis

eat, sleep, be aro, repeat

[ ID: Four images in a rectangle surrounding a stylized shape in the middle with green text that reads: “Let’s celebrate Allosexual Aros”  The top left and bottom right images have a green filter on them.  At the very bottom is tiny text that reads: “Arospec Week 2020″  Top left image: two queer people of color about to kiss. Top right image: a cropped image of the right half of a plus-size model wearing full-body lingerie. Bottom left image: three men of color, one is shirtless, they are cuddled close, looking directly at the camera. Bottom right image: two femme-presenting people kissing with their eyes closed. ]

I wrote this partly as a vent and partly as an entry for ASAW. These feelings have been weighing on me for a while and it is nice to finally write them out.

Maybe some of you can relate.

A happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week to everyone! I decided to put this in both tags since I can’t really categorize it but also don’t want to wait with posting because I am impatient lmao.

ASAW day 7: “Diversity”

What’s something about yourself or other arospecs that you want people to know or would like to see represented?

THE WHITE RING! People don’t know that aros use a white ring on the left middle finger.

I would like to see representation of arospec characters on media. For anyone who is drawing, writing, animating, or producing anything, please think about involving an arospec character.

I would like people to know that romantic love isn’t either the only nor the most important form of love. I love my friends so so much, and it pains me that even themselves can think that my friendship is worth less than some romance that is yet to come.

Spread awareness! Educated yourself! Don’t know some terms or definitions? GOOGLE IT, ASK AROUND, WHATEVER IT TAKES. Tell people about us, even, and maybe especially, if you’re not in the aro spectrum.

There are no words to describe how fundamental awareness is. Some people you know may find out that aromantic, or lithromantic was the word they were looking for to describe how they feel. As an asexual, I cried when Aaron Paul, the voice of Todd Chavez in BoJack Horseman, during a farewell video talked about asexuality, and how the community loved it. I run out of words to say how I would feel if I saw an explicitly aromantic character in a show I like.

February 19th: Everyday - What is your life like as an arospec person?

Honestly, other than being confused af about romance most of the time, it doesn’t do much other than me not falling in love, or else it goes and play in more specific subjects.

→ Talking about romance: being confused about all the thing, but still somehow being able to give some relationship advice if asked to since I’m not really involved in any of this.

→ Forced useless romantic relationship in a movie: the number of movies who have those is too many in my opinion, as often this is really a useless point in it. I’m not here to watch romance, I’m here to see people fight and kill each other for frog sake. I don’t mind those who are more subtle, that at least make sense and have a place and aren’t pushed down your throat.

→ Heavy PDA: not sure if it come from my aromantism (or my asexuality) but I can’t stand heavy PDA, like a long session of frenching or acting as if they were legit going to have sex right here and there, especially if they are in my face or too close to me. I don’t mind smaller one, like kisses, holding hand and hugging, as those are either more subtle or smaller and never something I really notice.

→ People falling in love with me: thank the frogs, this happened only once (but this will be a story for tomorrow). It just makes me uncomfortable and if the person was a friend of mine make me doubt if they approached me for that or if they were genuine in our friendship. Something I don’t want happening since I don’t want to deal with that kind of stuff.

→ Friendly interaction: at school and in my department I’m super open about my aromantism and this might have been the reason why I started talking with some, as a lot of them a queer too. I guess people with similarity in identity get along well often (?).

Another day of ASAW, another day of aromantic-official’s prompts! Today the theme is Questioning.

I’ve mentioned this in a personal post a while back, but I can’t clearly remember my questioning period. It’s a little sad, because I would very much like to revisit those memories, but my discovery of aromanticism came at a time that was very difficult for me psychologically.

Nevertheless, I can remember a few experiences that I want to share, because they helped shape me into the aro I am today.

Every aro I met was kind, patient, and compassionate. I had excellent role models and representatives of the community to talk with and learn from

The community was by far the least exclusive community I had ever encountered under the broad Queer umbrella. I remember an easygoing atmosphere, celebration of change and fluidity, and focus on respect of diversity

The memes were so goddamn funny (still are)

The most visible and accessible information to me was on inclusion and positivity. I never experienced feeling broken during my questioning period because the community’s self-esteem was strong and stable