Asexual

Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to any gender. Some asexual people choose to define their identity further using the split attraction model, which allows them to include their romantic orientation. Options for romantic orientation include any prefixes that can be affixed to -sexual: for example, panromantic, aromantic, biromantic, homoromantic, and heteroromantic. Asexuals sometimes shorten their identity using the split attraction model to, for example, bi aces, gay aces, or straight aces.

Asexuality can also be further separated into labels that specify how often sexual attraction occurs. Demisexuals, gray-sexuals, and gray aces all fit under the ace umbrella. Asexuality should not be confused with celibacy—celibacy is a choice to abstain from sexual activity, while asexuality refers only to sexual attraction. Asexuals can consent to and enjoy sex and be sexually active.

The asexual flag is four horizontal bars of purple, white, grey, and black. Most LGBT+ groups in the United States include asexuality and aromanticism as non-straight identities. In the full acronym, asexuals and aromantics are included under the A, sometimes along with agender people.

History of asexuality

Magnus Hirschfeld mentioned concepts similar to asexuality in a pamphlet in 1896.

The Kinsey Reports by Dr. Kinsey included category X, indicating people who did not experience sexual attraction, in 1948 and 1953. Building off this work, Michael Storms included asexuality in 1979 on the two-dimensional model of erotic orientation.

In a 1983 study, Paula Nurius looked at the relationship "between mental health and sexual orientation by surveying a non-random sample of 689 people" and included asexuality as a sexual orientation. Her survey showed that asexuals had a lower actual and desired frequency of sexual activity. They were also more likely to "depression, low self-esteem, and sexual discord".

A survey of 18,876 British residents conducted in 1994 found 1% of respondents to not feel sexual attraction. However, as knowledge of the orientation increases, this percentage will probably increase.