Identities

Allosexual – Not asexual. Experiencing sexual attraction. (alloromantic defined similarly) (see these posts on the history of this word and various proposed alternatives which did not grow popular: https://emeraldincandescent.tumblr.com/post/108473155628/gather-around-baby-aces-and-i-shall-tell-you-a and https://rotten-zucchinis.tumblr.com/post/109823050270/blackqueerbravado-literally-does-anyone-know-what).

Aromantic/Aro – As an umbrella term, experiencing little to no romantic attraction, or otherwise identifying on the aromantic spectrum. As a specific term, not experiencing romantic attraction.

Asexual/Ace – As an umbrella term, experiencing little to no sexual attraction, or otherwise identifying on the asexual spectrum. As a specific term, not experiencing sexual attraction or not experiencing intrinsic desire for partnered sex.

Aspec – Being on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrums.

Demisexual – Only experiencing sexual attraction towards people with whom they have deep emotional connections, whether romantic, platonic, or other forms of connections. (demiromanticism defined similarly)

Gray-asexual – A spectrum including those who experience sexual attraction very rarely, have a low sex drive, do not want to act on their attraction, and/or only experience sexual attraction under specific circumstances. (gray-romanticism defined similarly)

 

Aceflux – Having a fluctuating sexual oriention which generally stays on the asexual spectrum. (aroflux defined similarly)

Acespike – Typically feeling no sexual attraction but rarely experiencing sudden, intense spikes of sexual attraction for a short amount of time. (arospike defined similarly)

Acevague – An aspec orientation influenced partially or fully by one’s neurodivergence. (arovague defined similarly)

Aegosexual/Autochorissexual – Having a disconnect between oneself and the subject of arousal (aegoromanticism defined similarly but with romantic fantasies instead of arousal).

Akoisexual/Lithosexual – Experiencing sexual attraction but not wanting it reciprocated. (lithromantic/akoiromantic defined similarly)

Cupiosexual – Not experiencing sexual attraction but desiring a sexual relationship. (cupioromantic defined similarly)

Fraysexual/Ignotasexual – Only experiencing sexual attraction to those one is not deeply connected with and losing that attraction upon getting to know the person. (frayromantic/ignotaromantic defined similarly)

Quoisexual/Whatsexual/WTFsexual – Not identifying with the concept of sexual attraction; not finding sexual orientations personally helpful; identifying with the process of questioning one’s sexuality; being uncertain of what sexual attraction is; or having difficulty distinguishing different types of attraction. (quoiromantic/whatromanitc/wtfromantic defined similarly)

Reciprosexual/recipsexual – Only developing sexual attraction after knowing that the other individual is sexually attracted to them. (recipromantic/reciproromantic defined similarly)

 

Find more identities and information about the histories of these identities at https://lgbta.wikia.org/wiki/LGBTA_Wiki.

 

Types of Attraction

Aesthetic attraction – Attraction to someone’s appearance without necessarily any accompanying desire to act on it or interact with them. Comparable to looking at a nice painting.

Platonic attraction – The desire to be in a close platonic relationship with someone specific.

Romantic attraction – The desire to be in a romantic relationship with someone specific.

Sensual attraction – The desire for non-sexual physical contact, such as cuddling, with someone specific.

Sexual attraction – The desire to have sexual contact with someone specific.

 

Other Vocabulary

Acephobia – Fear, prejudice or discrimination against people within the asexual (ace) spectrum; the belief that asexuality is “unnatural”, “wrong” and/or a health issue that needs “correcting”.

Asexual erasure – Denying the existence of asexuality, asexuals and other sexualities and people within the asexual spectrum; the lack of representation and misrepresentation of the asexual spectrum in the media.

QPR/Queerplatonic relationship – A relationship which does not follow societal norms for being a platonic relationship vs a romantic relationship.

Sex-averse/repulsed vs sex-indifferent vs sex-ambivalent vs sex-favorable spectrum – Attitudes towards sex in one’s own life.

Sex-negative vs sex-neutral vs sex-positive spectrum – Attitudes towards sex in general/in society.

Sexual arousal – A physical occurrence which may or may not be completely disconnected from your desires.

Sexual desire (libido/sex drive) – General interest in sexual activity.

Split Attraction Model – A method of describing one’s attractions by separating out one’s types of attraction (most commonly separating sexual attraction from romantic attraction, but sometimes other types of attraction as well), as opposed to using one label to refer to all forms of attraction. Used by many but not all aspec people, and also some non-aspec people. (see this post on the history of the term https://theacetheist.wordpress.com/2019/03/20/remodeling-on-the-reclamation-of-the-term-split-attraction-model/)

Squish – A platonic crush.