50 Shades of Ace: The Spectrum of Asexuality

Sexual Attraction vs Sexual Orientation

Sexual attraction and sexual orientation are not one and the same. Sexual attraction describes to what degree, if any, individuals experience the desire to partake in sexual activity. Sexual orientation refers to the gender(s) someone experiences sexual attraction towards, assuming they experience sexual attraction at all.

Sexualities on the Ace Spectrum

Yes, there's more than one!

Asexual (also 'Ace')

In its simplest and most straightforward form, asexuality describes individuals who do not experience sexual attraction and have no appetite for partaking in sexual activity. However, the word "asexual" is sometimes also used as a catch-all label for all types of people on the asexuality spectrum.

Aegosexual (formerly 'Autochorisexual')

An individual that may experience sexual attraction and fantasize about sexual scenarios or get aroused by sexual material, perhaps sometimes masturbating to them, who still doesn't wish to participate in sexual activity.

Cupiosexual

An asexual person who doesn't experience sexual attraction but still wants to engage in sexual relationships.

Demisexual

Persons who only experience sexual attraction if there is a preexisting strong emotional bond.

Grey-sexual (also 'Grey-asexual,' 'Grey-A,' and 'Grace')

Someone whose sexuality falls somewhere between asexuality and allosexuality (people who do experience sexual attraction). Gray-sexuals may experience sexual attraction very rarely or find that their desire is more fluid, depending on circumstances.

Libidoist Asexual

An asexual-identifying person who experiences arousal and satiates those desires through masturbation.

Just like allosexuals, people on the asexual spectrum can be heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual, pansexual, or choose not to define their sexuality in any gendered terms.

Romantic Attraction

Sexual attraction and romantic attraction are not inherently linked together. Many asexuals (but not all!) have the desire for romantic relationships and act on those desires. Romantic relationships involving one or more individuals on the asexuality spectrum may or may not include sexual activity – it all depends on the people in said relationships and what they're comfortable with.

Romantic Orientations on the Ace Spectrum

Romantic orientations define what gender identities, if any, an individual experiences romantic desire towards. Romantic orientation may also describe to what degree someone does or doesn't experience romantic desire and what circumstances determine those desires.

Alloromantic

A person who regularly has a romantic attraction toward others. Alloromantics may be asexual or allosexual, as romantic desire and the desire to engage in sexual activity do not always go hand in hand.

Aromantic (also 'Aro' and 'Aroace')

The complete lack of romantic desire.

Biromantic

Romantic attraction to more than one gender.

Demiromantic

When someone only experiences romantic attraction if there is a preexisting strong emotional bond.

Greyromantic

When an individual experiences romantic attraction very infrequently or mildly.

Heteroromantic

Romantic attraction towards the opposite gender.

Homoromantic

Romantic attraction towards the same gender.

Lithromantic (also 'Akoiromantic' and 'Apromantic')

A person who experiences romantic attraction but doesn't desire the object of their attraction to return those feelings.

Panromantic

Romantic attraction to all genders and gender identities.

More Terminology Related to Asexuality

The more definitions and lingo you know, the better you can discuss and understand asexuality as a whole.

Abstinence

The choice to abstain from sexual activity. Again, it should be noted that not all asexuals are abstinent.

Acespec

Slang for "asexual spectrum."

Allosexual

An individual who desires sexual activity and experiences sexual attraction toward others. Allosexuality is essentially the opposite of asexuality.

Allo

Slang for either "allosexual" or "alloromantic".

Libidoist

An individual with a libido.

Non-Libidoist

An individual without a libido.

Sex-Averse

An aversion to or disinterest in sexual activity.

Sex-Favorable

Someone with a proclivity toward sexual activity or a fondness for the idea of it.

Sex-Repulsed

A disgust towards all sexual activity and the idea of it.