Author: The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project

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September ’22 TAAAP Pride Chats – Mental Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Month in the United States, and September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, so the theme for Pride Chats this month is mental health, illness, and wellness! This can cover anything from how you identify/relate to identity, struggles you have had due to accepting your identity or having it accepted by others, and more. As always, we encourage the use of content warnings and spoilers on Discord for any discussion that becomes specific or descriptive.

All of the usual channels will be open, along with the channels specifically to discuss the Carnival of Aros and the Carnival of Aces.

This month’s chat will take place from 10:00 am Eastern Saturday, September 24 to 11:59 pm Eastern Sunday, September 25. (That’s 2 PM GMT Saturday through 3:59 AM Monday) Per usual we will try to have 2 hour voice chats both days, based on availability of participants.

Registration for TAAAP Pride Chats
Event Guidelines
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African Diaspora Aspecs

Aspec communities are often dominated by white people and people from the US and Europe, so this article focuses on the experiences and perspectives of ace and aro people from Africa, from the African diaspora, or who identify as Black. We are posting it on August 31 to celebrate the International Day for Peoples of African Descent. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

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August ’22 TAAAP Pride Chats – Free For All

Hello everyone! As it’s a busy time of year for a lot of people, the theme for August is simply a free-for-all! Pop in the server to discuss any and all aspec related topics that you would like!

All of the usual channels will be open, along with the channels specifically to discuss the Carnival of Aros and the Carnival of Aces.

This month’s chat will take place from 10:00 am Eastern Saturday, August 27 to 11:59 pm Eastern Sunday, August 28. (That’s 2 PM GMT Saturday through 3:59 AM Monday) Per usual we will try to have 2 hour voice chats both days, based on availability of participants.

Registration for TAAAP Pride Chats
Event Guidelines
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Aro Youth

Aromantic communities tend to include a high proportion of young people, and more and more people are discovering aromanticism at earlier ages. While it is wonderful that there is increased education allowing people to find community when they are young, it also means that we need to be aware of the specific experiences, joys, challenges, and struggles faced by aro young people.

In honor of the International Day of Youth, August 12, we are highlighting the experiences of aro people under the age of 20. In order to protect their identities and prevent online harassment, we have not included any social media handles. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

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Ace Youth

Asexual communities tend to include a high proportion of young people, and more and more people are discovering asexuality at earlier ages. While it is wonderful that there is increased education allowing people to find community when they are young, it also means that we need to be aware of the specific experiences, joys, challenges, and struggles faced by ace young people.

In honor of the International Day of Youth, August 12, we are highlighting the experiences of ace people under the age of 20. In order to protect their identities and prevent online harassment, we have not included any social media handles. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Ace Youth”
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Aspecs and Queer Platonic Relationships – Part Two

Queer Platonic Relationships, or Queer Platonic Partnerships (QPRs/QPPs) are relationships that purposely defy relationship categories, and can mix elements from platonic, romantic, and sexual relationships. They are each unique depending on the people involved in them, but they often involve some level of commitment or intimacy.

Because asexual and aromantic people tend to structure their relationships and interpersonal needs in unique ways, many of them choose to engage in relationships that are hard to define, and take comfort in Queer Platonic Relationships.

The third Sunday in July is Queer Platonic Pride Day – in 2022, that’s July 16, so we decided to highlight aspecs with Queer Platonic Relationships. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Aspecs and Queer Platonic Relationships – Part Two”
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Aspecs and Queer Platonic Relationships – Part One

Queer Platonic Relationships, or Queer Platonic Partnerships (QPRs/QPPs) are relationships that purposely defy relationship categories, and can mix elements from platonic, romantic, and sexual relationships. They are each unique depending on the people involved in them, but they often involve some level of commitment or intimacy.

Because asexual and aromantic people tend to structure their relationships and interpersonal needs in unique ways, many of them choose to engage in relationships that are hard to define, and take comfort in Queer Platonic Relationships.

The third Sunday in July is Queer Platonic Pride Day – in 2022, that’s July 16, so we decided to highlight aspecs with Queer Platonic Relationships. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Aspecs and Queer Platonic Relationships – Part One”
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July ’22 TAAAP Pride Chats – Wrath Month

June is well known as Queer/LGBTQIA+ Pride Month around the world. But July is often referred to as Queer/LGBTQIA+ Wrath Month. So this month we’ll be talking about the causes of our wrath and how to express that wrath in all sorts of ways – from activism to protest to self-care, as taking care of ourselves is one way of resisting the powers that want to prevent us from living our lives the way we want or need to.

We’ll also be discussing how to do so safely and inclusively, since July is also Disability Pride Month, and the needs of those with disabilities are often overlooked when protesting.

The rest of the Discord will still be open, along with the channels specifically to discuss the Carnival of Aros and the Carnival of Aces.

This month’s chat will take place from 10:00 am Eastern Saturday, July 30 to 11:59 pm Eastern Sunday, July 31. (That’s 2 PM GMT Saturday through 3:59 AM Monday) Per usual we will try to have 2 hour voice chats both days, based on availability of participants.

Registration for TAAAP Pride Chats
Event Guidelines
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Pride 2022 – Non-Queer Aspecs

Queer is often used as an umbrella label for the LGBTQIA2+ community. But some people within the community don’t identify with the label “queer” for various reasons, and that includes ace and aro people.

This Pride Month we wanted to highlight the experiences of those who are aro or ace and do not identify as queer, as Pride is for them as well! Thanks to all of our contributors.

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Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Four

“Straight” is often used to mean the opposite of “queer”, and therefore many people think that straight or hetero people don’t belong in or are not part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, this can impact asexual and aromantic people, as it is possible for them to have heteromantic or heterosexual attraction or desire even while they are ace, aro, or aroace. For Pride Month, we wanted to shine a light on those aspec people who identify as straight or hetero in any way, as this month is for them as well.

This article is the fourth and last of several focused on straight or hetero aspecs. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Four”