Understanding Asexuality

Asexuality is a sexual identity that is unfamiliar to many people.

• Asexuality is a sexual identity in which individuals have very little or no sexual interest.

• Asexuality exists not just among humans but in species throughout the animal world.

• Asexuality is a true sexual identity and is not due to bad relationships, voluntary abstinence, or sexual dysfunction.

• Seeing asexuality as unusual or scary is due to people mistakenly seeing sex as an essential part of the human experience.

Over the past decade, a great deal of attention has been given to the variety of sexual identities evident throughout the human species. We as a species have all become much more aware that sexuality is much more diverse and multi-faceted. This has all been made even more compelling as we also recognize that sexual identity is often “fluid," meaning individuals may change their sexual identity to a different one, and then shift back.
One sexual identity that still does not receive much attention is asexuality. People who identify as asexual (also known as “Aces”) experience little or no sexual attraction to other people. They desire emotional intimacy but do not desire sexual intimacy (or do not desire it very much).
Understanding Asexuality