International Asexuality Day is coming up on April 6, 2022. The celebration is part of a worldwide campaign celebrating the ace umbrella. The four themes of International Asexuality Day include:
- Advocacy
- Celebration
- Education
- Solidarity
These themes explore the goals and work of the global ace community and organizations, especially those in non-English speaking or non-Western countries.
If you identify under the ace umbrella, we encourage you to participate in International Asexual Day. Participating can include simple things such as sharing a related post on social media or wishing a loved one who you know is identified on the asexual spectrum a happy day.
If there are organizations around you running campaigns, holding events, and supporting related causes on the day, ask if you can join them. Chances are, they’re looking for similar-minded individuals to participate in the celebration.
What Is Asexuality?
Asexual people are people that aren’t drawn to others sexually. They don’t have the desire to act on their attraction to other people in a sexual way. Asexuality is different from celibacy.
Celibate people choose to abstain from all types of sexual activity. They could be attracted to others sexually. Asexuality, on the other hand, is an intrinsic part of an individual. It’s not a choice but rather a sexual orientation. Being asexual doesn’t mean that your life is better or worse than anyone else’s.
It only means that you experience different challenges and needs than other sexual people. The asexual community is diverse in its experiences and needs associated with sexuality. There are differences in attraction, arousal, and relationships.
Even though some aces experience sexual attraction, they can have romantic attraction and romantic partners.
Demisexuals (those who only experience sexual attraction after forming a solid emotional bond) and gray-sexuals (identifying somewhere between sexuality and asexuality) are also considered part of the asexual umbrella.
In demisexuals, even if there’s a solid emotional bond, that’s not a guarantee of sexual attraction. Remember that being asexual doesn’t have anything to do with whether someone has sex, how much they have, or who they have it with. Everyone’s experience is different, unique, and valid.
Other sub-identities under the asexual umbrella include:
- Aromantics: people who may experience sexual attraction but feel no romantic attraction.
- Aro-ace: those who do not experience romantic or sexual attraction.
- Grey- asexuals: those who experience sexual attraction but rarely.
- Sex repulsed asexuals: those who have an aversion to or are repulsed by the idea of having sex.
- Sex- favorable asexuals: those who like sex but don’t experience sexual attraction.
- Aegosexuals: those who experience arousal but don’t have any sexual attraction.
Other fun ways to raise awareness for International Asexuality Day
We mentioned celebrating IAD by posting on social media or joining an organization holding events. If you feel like this isn’t for you, here’s what you can do instead:
- Get together with a group of friends and discuss what asexuality means to you. Make sure you’re in a safe space.
- Bake a cake to promote International Asexuality Day.
- Spend the day with a loved one that identifies as asexual.
