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(Argh wrote it all once, pressed the wrong button and WHOOSH)
I posted in the other forum’s thread but will post something else here too.
Not all asexuals feel aligned with the LGBT and not all LGBT people are interested in asexuality being a part.
Personally I don’t feel that the LGBT should be forced to allow ‘outside’ people into their group, however I can see why so many would want to be a part of it. LGBT has a monopoly on non-heteronormative etc community and support (although it is not the only group there is… others like Diverse Sexuality and Gender do exist in the UK but are not very well heard of) so an isolated asexual may find the LGBT group is the only one around who may help them. We face issues too. Of course, asexuals can have some link to LGBT in that they can be transgender or non-binary gender and they can have romantic orientations too (for those who don’t know, it is possible for an asexual to cultivate a strong emotional bond (love) with someone else but not experience sexual attraction to them. To put it shortly and crudely, it is the difference between a loving relationship and ‘friends with benefits’).
To clarify what I wrote originally, for the curious:
Asexuals may feel;
~ The LGBT is all about sex so they would be alienated from it all and feel ‘what’s the point in me being here?’
~ If an asexual has a hetero-romantic orientation, they might not feel that they have any need to be involved with the LGBT community since they don’t have the same depth of issues. A hetero-romantic asexual might never need to come out at all (except on a need-to-know basis, obviously).
~ Some asexuals don’t see why we need to be allied with the LGBT and feel asexuality can be a totally separate community.
~ They might have read or experienced negative reactions from members of the LGBT and so don’t consider them allies.
On the other hand;
~ As I say, asexuals who are transgender or who have non-hetero romantic orientations may still want to be involved with the LGBT.
~ Asexuals who are attracted to the same sex can face the same homophobic incidents/issues as homosexuals and still face coming out to their families, etc.
~ Asexuals can want to be involved in an ally capacity.
~ LGBT events can be very good opportunities for visibility and education. Some LGBT people might even be asexual and not know it (for instance, a homoromantic asexual might identify as homosexual but not understand why they are different from other homosexuals). Visibility and education is especially important since some unknowing asexuals may find themselves very depressed by being ‘abnormal’ and may even force themselves into undergoing traumatic experiences to try and become ‘normal’.
LGBT people may feel;
~ Asexuality doesn’t exist. You just need to see your doctor/get laid/were abused/can’t get any *gigglesnort*.
~ Asexuals aren’t sexual people so why should they be involved with the LGBT? What issues can you have from just not having sex? Why cause a fuss?
~ The Oppression Olympics: “When you’ve had people killed for being asexual, THEN you can tell us you have issues.”
There are probably more on both sides, but there you go.
The first Pride London I went to we (that is to say, the AVEN group) got laughed at a few times, I got a collection of jokes and insults and I even got jumped on and groped while someone took a photo. My backside is probably on facebook somewhere. Thankfully last year was much better and we intend to go to World Pride 2012 so we’ll see how that goes.
@ MsBunny… I feel compelled to say that ‘asexuality’ is not a new thing, however ‘the asexual movement’ (mainly the Asexual Visibility and Education Network but other groups too) is recent. AVEN began 10 years ago.
@ Rapunzel… Not all asexuals are ‘repulsed’ (as has come into common use on AVEN). Some asexuals are termed ‘indifferent’ and don’t really care for it either way. Some are sex-positive and can see sex as a beautiful, natural thing and can appreciate what people of other orientations see in it. Some asexuals do have sex for various reasons- for the sake of a partner, for children, for curiosity, experimentation or confirmation of their orientation, peer pressure or even because the plumbing downstairs works and they can enjoy it. After all, asexuality just means a lack of sexual attraction, not a dislike or hatred of sex. Personally I intend on never having sexual contact because I don’t desire to and don’t see the reason why I should. As for other people… I’m not ‘anti-sexual’ but I don’t really need to see it, thanks. Mainly I’m annoyed because I don’t see the relevance. Like when you are watching a good movie and suddenly RANDOM SEX SCENE! and I just feel ‘get back to the plot please…’ and it seems like Hollywood etc feels no one can possibly ever be interested in their products without the obligatory romance.
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