Gray-asexual,[1] also known as graysexual or gray-A,[1][2][3] is an asexual identity characterized as being "in between" asexual and allosexual; that is, being asexual while also able to experience, or have experienced previously, sexual attraction.[1] People who identify as gray-asexual may experience sexual attraction that occurs infrequently, at low intensity, or in an ambiguous way.[4][5][6][7] The term is often included in the asexual spectrum.[6][7][8]
Etymology[]
Preceded by earlier discussion of "semisexuality,"[9] the term "gray-a" was first used in a 2006 Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) thread of the same name by AVEN user KSpaz, who dedicated a thread to the "fuzziness" in between asexual and allosexual.[10] The term "gray area" is often used to refer to an ill-defined situation wherein the rules are not clear or unknown.[11]
Community[]
The term gray-asexual has become one of the most common ace identity terms after asexuality itself. In the 2019 Ace Community Census, gray-asexuals made up about 10% of ace respondents.[12]
Flag[]
Gray-asexuals are represented by the gray stripe in the asexual community flag, which was created collaboratively within the community in 2010.[13][14] A flag specifically for gray-asexuality was created by Milith Rusignuolo and uploaded to Wikimedia Commons on June 21, 2013. For this flag, purple represents asexuality, white represents allosexuality, and gray represents the transition between asexuality and allosexuality, which in turn is meant to represent the infrequent or low feelings of sexuality that grayasexual people may feel.[15]
Distinction[]
Asexual[]
- Main article: Asexual
Although gray-asexuality is on the asexual spectrum, it is different from asexuality by itself. Asexual is generally defined as not experiencing sexual attraction, or experiencing very little of it, whereas gray-asexual people may specifically feel sexual attraction rarely, weakly, or otherwise under limited circumstances.[6][7]
Perceptions and discrimination[]
According to the 2019 Ace Community Survey Report, 10.9% of all 10,648 self-selected participants identified as gray-asexual. This was the most popular response behind asexual (67.9%). Gray-asexual people were just as likely to be questioning as asexual-identified people, and less likely to be questioning than demisexual-identified people.[16]
Some gray-asexual people reported that they received harassment from both inside and outside of the ace community. In particular, other asexual people may judge those who are gray-asexual as simply being allosexual people who want to feel "special" or "unique". In other cases, some asexual people may question if gray-asexual and similar labels actually "count" as being part of the asexual spectrum. Thus there ends up being pressure put on gray-asexual people to "prove" that they count as part of the community.[6]
Some gray-asexual people experience internalized acephobia, as their experience of asexuality may be different from other people, particularly around the concept of wanting and enjoying sex.[17]
Media[]
- Tristan Miller, who organizes the annual Ace Community Survey[18]
References[]
|