The LGBTQIA+ community contains so many diverse identities and perspectives that, sometimes, groups can be overlooked. This is certainly true for asexual and aromantic communities – demographics whose experiences are often misunderstood or misinterpreted, both within and out with the queer community.

However, to truly understand the spectrums of desire and love, it’s crucial that we educate ourselves about and advocate for ace and aro folks. Whether it’s reading about identities like fraysexual and demisexual that sit on either end of the ace spectrum, correcting harmful assumptions that ace or aro identities can be “cured”, or signal-boosting the work of ace-aro activists like Yasmin Benoit, there is so much that allies can do.

When it comes to aromantic identities, there is particularly limited visibility in the media and wider culture. For questioning folks, that means that there is little representation out there that validates or mirrors their perspective. Our society is so obsessed with the idea of romantic love as an ideal that most alloromantic (non-aromantic) individuals may not even know about alternative models of experiencing love.

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[–] Firebirdie713@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 5 months ago

Just recently discovered I am on the aromantic spectrum myself. I always experienced relationships as essentially close friendships. I still feel love, I still like things people would consider romantic, but there is no line between "friend" and "dating" for me, aside from the comfort of the other person.

Realizing this and coming out as arospec was harder that when I came out as trans or when I came out as nonbinary. Mostly because I was now married, and trying to figure out how to convey "I am aromantic, but that doesn't mean I don't love you" in a way another non-aro person can understand is difficult.