Author: The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project

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Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Three

“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 third of several focused on straight or hetero aspecs. Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Three”
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Pride 2022 – Loveless Aspecs

Pride is often associated with love. Common phrases include “Love is Love” or “Love makes us human”. Pride may be about love for some people, but it is not the foundation of the celebration for all LGBTQIA+ people. Some people do not feel, understand, or connect with love – any form of it. They may identify as “Loveless”, which originated in the aromantic community as a way of reclaiming something often seen as a negative trait.

Text: Loveless Someone who does not feel love, doesn't understand or feels disconnected from love as a concept or descriptor, or rejects love or the social construct of it This identity originated in the aromantic community. Some loveless people feel hatred towards the social construct of love or are repulsed by the idea of love, while others simply feel disconnected from it personally. Picture: The Loveless Aro flag
A graphic describing “loveless”. Alt text included.

For Pride Month, we wanted to shine a light on those aspec people who identify as Loveless, as this month is for them as well.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Pride 2022 – Loveless Aspecs”
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Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Two

“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 second of several focused on straight or hetero aspecs – this one includes all aromantic people, some of whom are also asexual, who identify as straight or hetero.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part Two”
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Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part One

“Straight” is often used to mean the opposite of “queer” or LGBTQIA+, 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, or hetero tertiary 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 first of several focused on straight or hetero aspecs – this one includes all asexual people, some of whom are also aromantic, who identify as straight or hetero. One of the next articles will include all aromantic people, some of whom are asexual, who identify as straight.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Pride 2022 – Straight or Hetero Aspecs – Part One”
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June ’22 TAAAP Pride Chats – Pride Month

In honor of June being Pride Month, we’re doing Pride Chats every weekend in June.

Each weekend has a different theme:

  • Weekend 1 (June 4-6) – Pride
  • Weekend 2 (June 11-13) – Intersections with other identities
  • Weekend 3 (June 18-20) – Community Building
  • Weekend 4 (June 25-27)- Activism

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 chats will be open from 10:00 am Eastern Saturdays to 11:59 pm Eastern Mondays. (That’s 2 PM GMT Saturdays through 3:59 AM GMT Tuesdays).

See you then!

Registration for TAAAP Pride Chats
Event Guidelines
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Aspec Sex Workers

In honor of International Sex Worker’s Day, June 2, we are posting perspectives from ace and aro people who are or ever have done any kind of sex work. We defined “sex work” expansively, including any kind of kink, fetish, or domination work, pornography, sensual massage, webcam sex work, phone sex, erotic performance, sexual surrogacy, full-service sex work, or any other kind of sexual services performed for money.

Sex workers’ profession is often criminalized, and sex work is stigmatized and demeaned in most communities, and that includes within asexual and aromantic communities. It is important to lift up the voices of sex workers and support them in their efforts to live their lives with safety, dignity, and without social shame. For more information on the history of sex work and how to best support sex workers, check out our list on Bookshop.org here: https://bookshop.org/lists/deconstructing-patriarchal-sexuality.

Thank you to all who volunteered their time and shared their experiences.

Continue reading “Aspec Sex Workers”
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Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part Three

May is International Masturbation Month. Many people have assumptions about how aspec people, particularly ace people, interact with masturbation and libido – from thinking that people with libidos can’t be asexual to not understanding that masturbation may not be sexual for some people, or that sexual pleasure is not incompatible with asexuality.

Many people volunteered to share their experiences, and we are incredibly grateful to all of them for that. This is the third and last of multiple articles on Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido.

Continue reading “Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part Three”
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Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part Two

May is International Masturbation Month. Many people have assumptions about how aspec people, particularly ace people, interact with masturbation and libido – from thinking that people with libidos can’t be asexual to not understanding that masturbation may not be sexual for some people, or that sexual pleasure is not incompatible with asexuality.

Many people volunteered to share their experiences, and we are incredibly grateful to all of them for that. This is the second of multiple articles on Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido.

Continue reading “Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part Two”
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Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part One

May is International Masturbation Month. Many people have assumptions about how aspec people, particularly ace people, interact with masturbation and libido – from thinking that people with libidos can’t be asexual to not understanding that masturbation may not be sexual for some people, or that sexual pleasure is not incompatible with asexuality.

Many people volunteered to share their experiences, and we are incredibly grateful to all of them for that. This is the first of multiple articles on Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido.

Continue reading “Aspec Perspectives on Masturbation and Libido – Part One”
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May ’22 TAAAP Pride Chats – Aging

Are you old? Are you ready to be? In honor of LGBTQ+ Elders Day on May 16, our next TAAAP Pride Chat will focus on older aspecs and aging. That includes older aspecs speaking about their experiences, the challenges and joys that come with age, as well as the concerns and excitement younger aspecs may have around getting older.

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, May 28 to 11:59 pm Eastern Sunday, May 29. (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