As you know, there’s a vast array of sexual orientations that an individual may identify with or feel a particular connection to. 

While those who are not immersed in LGBTQ+ culture and the community will only recognise a select few due to the lack of representation in mainstream media and news – such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender – more and more terms have emerged over the years to better represent the experiences and emotions of queer individuals, such as pansexual, asexual, polysexual and demisexual, among others. 

There will be some you’re aware of, whether that’s through a friend, your own experiences or researching online, and others you might not be familiar with. Here, we break down the meaning behind asexuality and its origins, as well as its accompanying Pride flag.

What does asexual mean?

Just like heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality and so forth, asexuality – often shortened to ‘ace’ – is a sexual orientation and those who identify as such can identify with any gender identity. 

Although it’s usually defined as the lack of sexual attraction to others, and unwillingness to act upon others in a sexual manner, not everyone will agree on the definition of asexuality.

Like some of the aforementioned sexualities, asexuality is relatively new to public discourse. While asexuality is rare, constituting approximately 1% or less of the population, it’s not a new concept. Asexual people have been around since, well, the dawn of time. 

In a piece for Stonewall, Michael Doré from The Asexual Visibility & Education Network suggests that asexuality was recognised much later than other LGTBQ+ identities because of the “lack of organised opposition, unlike other parts of the spectrum”. 

He wrote: “Obviously, while gay sex was criminalised relatively recent history in many countries including the UK, there were never any laws prohibiting not having sex (though the pressure on aces to have sex within marriage, and more generally to have sex based on peer pressure, is very real).”

Do asexual people explore romantic and sexual relationships?

Some asexual people may be interested in exploring romantic relationships, while others may not. It’s a vast spectrum. Also, there are some asexual people who do engage in sexual activity, whether that’s for their partner’s pleasure or to have children.