LGBTQIA+ Wiki
LGBTQIA+ Wiki

The aromantic spectrum, abbreviated as arospec[1] or aro-spec[2], refers to romantic orientations that are aromantic or are closely related to aromanticism when placed on a spectrum ranging from aromantic to alloromantic.[1][2][3]

It is also used by people whose aromantic identities are conditional, unreliable, or atypical to societal expectations, and by people who simply do not wish to label it further.[1] Identities under the aromantic umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.

Community

While it is commonly assumed that romantic and sexual attraction go hand in hand,[4] evidence suggests that a statistically significantly percentage of people experience inharmonious attraction with sexual and romantic orientation.[5] In one study, 1% of the sample size (4 people) identified as asexual or aromantic.

Many websites and resources are available for learning more about the aromantic community and the spectrum itself, such as AUREA (Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy).[6]

The words used to describe the aromantic spectrum often mirror those seen in the asexual spectrum.[7]

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (ASAW) is an annual, international event that aims to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities. It works to spread awareness of the identity while celebrating the existence of those who identify as such. It takes place the first full week in February, usually following Valentine's Day. It began as a way to unify those in the aromantic community who found it difficult to share their experiences with others. The first week was recognized in November 2014, under the name Aromantic Awareness Week, though it was moved to February in 2015. The new date also included the use of the word "spectrum" in a strive to be inclusive to all.[8]

Queerplatonic relationships

A queerplatonic relationship is a non-sexual, non-romantic partnership with an emotional strength that may be seen as beyond a friendship[9][10][11] since it has the prioritization and commitment usually considered to be part of romantic relationships.[10] Queerplatonic relationships do not fit the "traditional" models of friendships or sexual relationships.[9][11] Many queerplatonic relationships involve someone who is within the asexual spectrum,[12] but people in them may be of any sexual orientation or gender.[10][12]

Identities under the umbrella

Aromantic

Aromantic Flag

Aromantic flag

Aromantic, often shortened to aro, describes people who do not experience romantic attraction,[13][14] or experience little-to-no romantic attraction.[15] One of the meanings of the A in LGBTQIA+ is Aromantic.[13] Aromanticism is a romantic orientation and may involve forms of attraction that are not necessarily romantic, or interests in relationships that are intimate in other ways. There is no singular experience of aromanticism.[15]


Aegoromantic

Aegoromantic Flag

The aegoromantic flag

Aegoromantic, less commonly known as anegoromantic, also previously known as autochorisromantic, describes those who enjoy the concept of romance but do not have a desire to participate in romantic activities. Aegoromantic individuals may have romantic fantasies, enjoy romantic media, or engage in shipping in fandoms, but they tend to feel little to no romantic attraction in real life and typically do not desire a romantic relationship.[1][2][3]


Apothiromantic

ApothiromanticFlag

The apothiromantic flag

Apothiromantic is a person who does not feel any romantic attraction and is repulsed or disgusted by it.[1][3]


Aroflux

Aroflux Flag

The aroflux flag

Aroflux is an identity that operates along the aromantic/alloromantic spectrum.[16] People who identify as aroflux may experience their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing and not experiencing romantic attraction, or that attraction is being experienced to alternating or changing degrees.[2][3][17]


Autoromantic

Autoromantic Flag

An autoromantic flag

Autoromantic describes people who elicit romantic attraction from themselves, by themselves. They may not desire romantic activities with others but may enjoy being romantically intimate with themselves.[3][13]


Bellusromantic

Bellusromantic involves having an interest in conventionally romantic things without desiring a relationship.[1][3][18]

Cupioromantic

Cupioromantic Flag

A cupioromantic flag

Cupioromantic describes those who do not experience attraction but do desire a romantic relationship.[1][2][3][19] The term "cupio", as a verb, is the Latin word for "I desire."[20]


Demiromantic

Demiromantic Flag

The demiromantic pride flag

Demiromantic describes people who do not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep emotional connection with someone,[1][21] according to the most common definition.[21] Other definitions of this romantic orientation are only experiencing limited romantic attraction,[21] or falling somewhere on a spectrum between aromantic and romantic; the latter definition overlaps with one for grayromantic.[9]


Desinoromantic

Desinoromantic Flag

A desinoromantic flag

Desinoromantic people do not experience "full-on" romantic attraction, but do experience "liking" someone instead of loving them romantically; the attraction then goes no further.[1][18]

Frayromantic

Frayromantic Flag

A frayromantic flag

Frayromantic people only feel romantic attraction to people that they do not have a strong emotional bond with. Once they form an emotional bond with that person, that attraction disappears or fades. This identity may be seen as a counterpart to demiromantic.[1][2][3][22]


Grayromantic

Gray-aromantic Flag

The grayromantic flag

The term grayromantic includes, but is not limited to, people who feel low amounts of romantic attraction, rarely feel romantic attraction, only feel romantic attraction under specific circumstances, or are not sure if they experience romantic attraction. It may be considered a romantic equivalent to gray-asexuality.[1][2][3]

On the overall aromantic flag, grayromantics are represented by the pale green stripe, found underneath the darker green stripe on top.[23] A flag specifically for grayromanticism was created by tumblr user lesbiandoe on or before September 22, 2014. The flag was based off of the common greysexual flag by Milith Rusignuolo, but with green stripes instead of purple to represent aromanticism instead of asexuality.[24][25] It's meanings are,

  • Green: aromanticism
  • Gray: the transitional stage between aromanticism and alloromanticism.
  • White: alloromanticism.


Lithromantic

Lithromantic

A lith- or akoi- romantic flag

Lithromantic[1] or lithoromantic,[18] alternatively called akoiromantic[1][2][3] or akoineromantic,[1] describes someone who feels romantic attraction but does not want that attraction reciprocated or loses attraction when it is reciprocated.[1][2][3][18] They may enjoy romantic relationships in theory, but may stop feeling romantic attraction or enjoyment in a relationship.[1]

The term was originally coined as "lithromantic" by Ian, who uses the Tumblr screenname stopanthropomorphizingme, as early as May 22, 2014.[26]


Quoiromantic

Quoiromantic

A quoiromantic flag

Quoiromantic, also known as WTFromantic, describes not being romantically categorizable, being unable to tell the difference between differing kinds of attraction, being unsure about experiencing romantic attraction or not, and/or not feeling the concept of "romantic attraction" to be relevant to oneself.[1][2][3][13] The term "wtfromantic" was first used flippantly by Sciatrix in 2011,[27] and "quoiromantic" was proposed as a synonym by Cor in 2012.[28][29] Quoi is the French word for "what."[18]

Recipromantic

Recipromantic

A recipromantic flag

Recipromantic people only experience romantic attraction after knowing that the other person is romantically attracted to them—that is, when it is reciprocated.[1][2][3][13]

Flag

Aromantic Spectrum Flag

The aromantic spectrum flag

Sometimes the flag for aromantic itself is used for the aromantic spectrum overall, though there is an additional design specifically for the aromantic spectrum.[3][30] The spectrum-specific flag design was posted to Tumblr on August 6, 2020, by Potion of the Flag Archive blog. It has five equal-sized horizontal stripes, and the creator suggested the following meanings for the colors: dark green for aromanticism in all forms, light green for diversity in attraction and experiences, light yellow for the aromantic community and its history, teal for pride in an aromantic identity, and dark teal for recognition of aromanticism as its own separate identity from asexuality.[31]

Resources

  • AUREA, the Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 "All Aromantic Terms" by AUREA on AUREA - Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy(Archived on 2022-01-29)
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity by The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. Published 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781839976384.
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro: An Illustrated Exploration by Victoria Barron. Published 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781839977145.
  4. What Does Sexual Orientation Orient? A Biobehavioral Model - Distinguishing Romantic Love and Sexual Desire by Diamond, Lisa. Published 2003 by Psychological Review. (web archive)
  5. Examining Concordant and Discordant Sexual and Romantic Attraction in American Adults: Implications for Counselors by Lund, Emily M.; Thomas, Katie B.; Sias, Christina M.; & Bradley, April R.. Published 2016-11-21 by Taylor & Francis. (web archive)
  6. "aromanticism.org" by AUREA on <aromanticism.org>(Archived on 2022-02-02)
  7. "Aromanticism and the aromantic spectrum" on <asexualitytrust.org.nz>. Published 2022. (no backup information provided)
  8. "About ASAW" on Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week(Archived on 2022-02-20)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze by Morgan Lev Edward Holleb. Published 2019 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781785923425 (paperback), ISBN 9781784506636 (eBook)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Little Book of LGBTQ+: An A—Z of Gender and Sexual Identities by Harriet Dyer. Published 2022 by Summersdale Publishers, Ltd. queerplatonic: "A close but non-sexual, non-romantic relationship that is beyond what most would consider to be friendship. It consists of emotional commitment and prioritization that may usually be seen in a romantic relationship. People in queerplatonic relationships may be of any gender or sexual identity." ISBN 9781627783231 (trade paper), ISBN 9781627785365 (e-book). Preceded by From Ace to Ze: The Little Book of LGBT Terms in 2018.
  11. 11.0 11.1 The Queens' English: The LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases by Chloe O. Davis. Published 2021 by Clarkson Potter/Publishers. queerplatonic relationship: "An extremely close, passionate attachment between two friends that has a strong emotional connection that may extend beyond the boundary of a 'normal' friendship. These relationships do not develop into sexual or romantic partnerships. A person in a queerplatonic relationship can be called a QUEERPLATONIC PARTNER, SQUISH, or ZUCCHINI. Want more info? Think: a loving bond between two people that does not fit the model of a traditional friendship or sexual relationship." ISBN 9780593135006, ISBN 9780593135013 (Ebook)
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Understanding the Asexual Community" on <hrc.org>(no backup information provided)
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 The ABC's of LGBT+ by Ash Hardell. Published 2016 by Mango Media. ISBN 9781633534087.
  14. "Romantic Orientations" by Asexual Visibility and Education Network on The Asexual Visibility and Education Network(Archived on 2021-12-04)
  15. 15.0 15.1 "About Aromanticism" on Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week(Archived on 2022-02-20)
  16. "What Does Aroflux Mean? + Other Aroflux Information To Help You Be A Better Ally!" on <queerintheworld.com>. Published 2021 by Queer in the World!. (no backup information provided)
  17. "Aroflux glossary" on <identiversity.org>. Published 2022 by Identiversity. (no backup information provided)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Navigating Trans*+ and Complex Gender Identities by Green, Jamison; Hoskin, Rhea Ashley; Mayo, Cris; and Miller, sj. Published 2020 by Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781350061064.
  19. "Facts you should know about aromantic people" by Plonski, Logan on <them.us>. Published 2018-02-28 by Them.us. (no backup information provided)
  20. "Cupio (Latin) origin & history" on <wordsense.eu>(no backup information provided)
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 "The Gay BC's of LGBT+: An Accompaniment to The ABC's of LGBT+" by Ash Hardell on <mango.bz> (e-book). Published 2017-11-09 by Mango Publishing Group. (backup link not available)
  22. "What Are Fraysexuality And Frayromanticism?" by Ritika Joshi on <shethepeople.tv>. Published 2021-03-09 by She The People. (no backup information provided)
  23. "Newer and more improved aro flag (Untitled post)" by Whimsy, Cameron on volbol. Published 2014-11-16. (Archived on 2022-01-20)
  24. The meanings of the graysexual flag, which the grayromantic flag references
  25. The creation of the grayromantic flag, made by @lesbiandoe on tumblr
  26. "On Lith and Stone" by Ian (as stopanthropomorphizingme) on I Will Suffer No Humans. Published 2014-05-22. (Archive link)
  27. "Writhing in the Throes of Unrequited Like" by Sciatrix on <writingfromfactorx.wordpress.com>. Published May 22, 2011 by Writing From Factor X. (no backup information provided)
  28. "A thought" by Cor on <epochryphal.tumblr.com>. Published December 9, 2012. (no backup information provided)
  29. "Quoiro / WTFromantic: a brief timeline of disidentification with & personal rejection of romantic orientation" by Coyote on <theacetheist.wordpress.com>. Published January 4, 2019. (no backup information provided)
  30. Perfectly Queer: An Illustrated Introduction by Barron, Victoria. Published 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781839974083.
  31. "Aromantic spectrum flag!" by Potion on <theflagarchive.tumblr.com>. Published 2020-08-06. (Archived on 2022-02-21)