Asexual Pride

[madcatladyforever]

I'm an asexual myself and there have been a lot of asexuals parading at Pride.
I'd be interested to know what everyone else thinks but I don't personally think asexuals have any place in Pride unless they are actually gay asexuals.
I'm a straight asexual and I would not feel comfortable joining in the parade although as always I'll be there cheering everyone on.
Any thoughts?

I thought Pride was now considered a celebration of anyone who is LGBT+ and asexuality is included no? If you think that asexuals shouldn't be included, do you also think that bisexuals shouldn't? Even though both face a lot of discrimination?

Taco I am getting the feeling from a few of OPs comments that she doesn't think anyone but the L and G should be included :(

Why would anyone feel the need to celebrate asexuality and what discrimination do asexual people face as opposed to the discrimination and abuse people face for being sexually attracted to the opposite sex? It just seems to most people like rather meaningless bandwagon "I need to have a woke label" jumping.

And then to say "there are different levels of arousal" so you basically mean anyone who doesn't fancy sex all the time. Eye. Roll.

many asexual people are in same-sex romantic relationships and face all the discrimination that comes along with that.

Then that is homophobia.

I'm asexual and completely content. I am totally bewildered by this whole self absorption with 'identity'. I think you are what you do, what you stand for, your values, beliefs. All this trying to pin down an absolute definition of yourself seems to me to be a complete waste of time and rather unhealthy. I'm just waiting for someone to proclaim they're a pansexual asexual.

I'm just waiting for someone to proclaim they're a pansexual asexual.

It will come!

Eresh Yeh god imagine wanting to celebrate your own identity, how awful, it doesn't actually impact you in any way though does it? Why do you care about a group that doesn't effect you. It is a group quite literally asking NOT to be lumped in with other groups.

And yes, there are different levels of arousal? For both asexual people and non-asexual people. Some people want a lot of sex, and some people want a little, and some people none at all. This has nothing to do with their sexuality. This was in response to Captain who was asking if asexuals can be sexually aroused.

then this is homophobia yeh, didn't say it wasn't? What I said was that asexuals shouldn't be forced to piggy-back on the lesbian or gay men communities in order to be accepted at Pride or find a safe place away from this abuse. I am not homosexual, I am an asexual person romantically attracted to women. Bisexual people in same-sex relationships are not lesbians/gay men, they are first and foremost bisexuals. They may or may not be in a same-sex relationship and may or may not experience discrimination due to that.

My current or future relationship status does not nullify my asexuality.

Honestly, have you considered just getting on with your own life without being quite so wrapped up in a group who just want to do the same? The trans sentiments I understand (although I disagree) because it's viewed as people trying to muscle in on an existing community, but asexuals are just enjoying their own community and want to be recognised as something different but equal to lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men.

LOL loops. If you are only attracted to women you are homosexual to the vast majority of people. Have you ever stopped to think about how LGB people might feel about straight people who sometimes don't have sex appropriating their rights movement fighting against the oppression of homosexual people though? It's a bit rich you accusing others of being self absorbed.

"People with a tan totes understand racial oppression".

I have a friend who is panromantic asexual (pansexual means sexually attracted which would be incompatible with also being asexual) she prefers the term pan to the term bi, although many bi people view the terms interchangeably. It's a strange example to highlight non-standard identities though, I'd have gone with sapiosexual personally if you really wanted to take the piss.

I don't need to.

That word salad has given me indigestion.

Eresh the fact that if you are a woman dating a woman you are assumed to be a lesbian is one of the reasons it's necessary to have other voices at Pride. It's just as shitty as assuming someone is straight if they are a woman dating a man. Just don't assume and we'll all get along much better.

Asexuality has nothing to do with having or not having sex, behaviour does not = identity. If you are a celibate gay man, you are still a gay man.

Do you also have an issue with bisexuals who are in straight relationships being at Pride?

It's very confusing.
I'm happy to just be me.

Do you also have an issue with bisexuals who are in straight relationships being at Pride?

No. Why would I? If they are genuinely bisexual.

Captain me too, and I will continue going to Pride if I want to because it's fun and a chance to make friends. Nobody else has to, and for the most part people should learn to mind their own business and leave others alone unless they are actively causing harm.

Eresh and how on earth would you test 'genuine bisexuality'? Plenty of bisexual people haven't been in relationships with both sexes, that doesn't make them not bisexual.

I kissed a girl (two) and I liked it. Am i bisexual?

My mum hasn't had a sexual relationship for years and doesn't want one. Is she asexual?

Maybe the issue you have is thinking other people have any say in how a person identifies? If you feel you are sexually attracted to men and women and that bisexual provides a term for that. Great. Not my place to tell you what you are or are not.

Just like it is not your place to tell anyone else.

Seriously, really try giving "minding your own business unless you are actually being impacted by someone else" a go. It's pretty liberating when you can go to Pride and just be like "I am having such a nice time with my friends, look at all these happy people having a nice time with their friends, oh look a free whistle"

You seem to think that someone being able to explain their identity means that's all they ever do, when really I get on just fine every day by only needing to express that I am asexual if it's relevant. I am happy to answer questions if people ask, but generally they just mind their own business and we all move on.

If your mum does not experience sexual attraction, she may be asexual

Once again, behaviour does not = identity.

Asexuality is about the absence of sexual attraction, not the absence of sexual activity.

Now that pride has become commercialised and corporatised (Tesco are proud to support Pride! Etc) it cant exclude anyone as that would represent a loss of potential markets

So yeah, come on down asexuals, people who shag boats (but only on Thursdays) and other niche groups, but especially the straights - don’t forget to buy plenty of rainbow merchandise!

Love rules!!!

You'd think that the normalising of previously marginalised identities would be a good thing, now you can say you're gay to someone and they mostly aren't gonna care. The only people giving the 3rd degree to bisexuals/asexuals/trans people are certain minority voices within the lesbian and gay community. Imagine thinking it's ok to require some sort of test to see who is 'gay enough' to be at Pride. Just celebrate your own community, and let others do the same.

Aren't you happy that Pride doesn't need to be a protest any more?

It’s not identity that needs protection against discrimination in law though, is it? After all, identity is invisible, it’s only behaviour that is in the domain of others (law makers/other society members).