Queer Vocabulary
*with thanks to Daniel
someone who experiences limited to zero sexual attraction.
attraction to someone based on appearance–does not denote romantic or sexual feelings, though some may simultaneously experience romantic and/or sexual attraction.
the assumption that everyone is allosexual, which often leads to exclusionary/harmful behaviors toward aces.
someone who is not aromantic; they experience more typical or normalized romantic attraction. May be shortened to “Allo”.
- Some examples of alloromantic orientations include biromantic, panromantic, heteroromantic, and homoromantic. Note that you can be asexual and alloromantic or asexual and aromantic.
someone who is not asexual; they experience more typical or normalized sexual attraction. Like alloromantic, may be shortened to “Allo”.
- Some examples of allosexual orientations include bisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, and homosexual. Note that you can be allosexual and alloromantic or allosexual and aromantic.
the assumption that everyone is alloromantic, which often leads to exclusionary/harmful behavior toward aromantics.
hatred of, discrimination toward, or fear of asexuals and/or aromantics. “Acephobia” and “Arophobia” can be used to more specifically refer to discrimination towards ace and aro people, respectively.
someone who experiences limited to zero romantic attraction.
someone who usually does not experience sexual attraction but may after a close bond is formed with someone.
often considered the grey area between sexuality and asexuality. Some grey aces may experience sexual attraction under specific circumstances, but they feel it weakly or infrequently.
gender, sexual, and romantic minorities. Similar in meaning to LGBTQIA+ but viewed by some members as more inclusive.
stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer/questioning, intersex, ace/aro/agender, plus. An umbrella of non hetero/allo/amato/cis-normative identities.
someone whose gender identity is outside the binary of male/female.
a relationship that may have aspects of friendship and romance but falls outside of a typical romantic relationship or friendship while still being a close, committed bond.
a gender-neutral term some use to refer to their partner in a QPR.
a model of attraction wherein sexual, romantic, and/or tertiary attraction are treated as distinct forms of attraction.
terms used to describe an individual’s feelings toward their own involvement with sex.
terms used to describe an individual’s feelings toward sex as a general concept (or others’ involvement with sex).
forms of attraction other than romantic or sexual. Can include sensual, aesthetic, etc.
Other Sites We Love
A-Spec Communities and Activists
Ace and Aro Subreddits
Aegosexual: “A disconnection between oneself and a sexual target/object of arousal; may involve sexual fantasies, or arousal in response to erotica, but lacking any desire to be a participant in the sexual activities therein”. If this sounds like you, do join in! Aegosexual: The absence of the self in sexuality- liking the idea of sex without wanting to experience yourself or being repulsed by the self inserted into sexual situations.
A place for people who believe they might be asexual or aromantic to seek validation, advice and support.
Welcome to all, angled aroace is when you are in the aro-spec and ace-spec communities and experience a significant form of attraction other than romantic or sexual. And again, everyone is welcome here as long as you’re respectful to everyone else.
This is a sub-reddit for discussing matters relating to the aromantic spectrum – all are welcome to participate. Please read the sidebar and make sure to flair your posts!
r/Asexual is dedicated to bringing asexual awareness to any and all who come here. Asexuality is an orientation defined by little to no sexual attraction to anyone. Our goal here is to provide a welcoming home for any and all asexuals to come to, as well as provide a warm atmosphere for anyone to ask questions over asexuality. Whether you are an asexual, questioning if you are asexual, or just have questions as to what asexuality’s about, this is the community for you. Welcome! Have some cake!
A subreddit for discussion around men who are asexual, and the challenges we face in a society that expects us not to be.
Asexuality is a sexual orientation where a person doesn’t experience sexual attraction towards anyone. This is a place for asexuals, demisexuals, aromantics, gray-a’s, questioning, supporters, folks just interested, and everyone in between.
A subreddit about demisexuality. A demisexual is a person who may experience sexual attraction but only after forming a strong emotional connection with someone. It’s all a spectrum. Some demisexuals may feel very close to asexuality and experience attraction to extremely few people in their entire lifetimes, and each may take a very long time to develop, while others may find attraction develops more frequently and often find themselves crushing on their friends.
r/fictosexual is a community for people who find themselves intensely and lastingly attracted to fictional characters. Do you often fantasize about being in a relationship with a fictional character? Can you just not relate to other people’s attraction to others? r/fictosexual is a safe space to talk about fictosexual identity and experience without hate or judgement.
A place for Lithosexual & Lithoromantic related discussion and memes! Also meant for anyone trying to understand the spectrum of sexuality.
Oriented aroace is a person who does not experience sexual nor romantic attraction but feels another label to describe their sexuality is significant part of their identity alongside the term aroace. On this subreddit, we often discuss the oriented aroace identity, forms of tertiary attraction, and various types of aspec crushes. Please be open-minded and caring towards each other. Be kind to moderators. If you have any suggestions please message a moderator.