Explore Search
Exit

Leave this site Safely

You can quickly leave this website by clicking the “X” in the top right or by pressing the Escape key twice.

To browse this site safely, be sure to regularly clear your browser history.

Aired Feb 24, 2022

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week

People who are asexual (ace) and/or aromantic (aro) often report that they felt like that there was something wrong with them when they were growing up. Many also report feeling alienated by friends and family and that people in their lives tried to “fix” them. This episode of Something To Talk About Live, we will be discussing Tyler Stevenson’s article in LGBTQ Nation, “It is time to start celebrating Black asexuality in media” with Marshall John Blount, a board member of Asexual Outreach and member of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.

Something to Talk About Live is a series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to create conversation about LGBTQ+ issues. Each week we offer an article on LGBTQ+ topics and suggest a few questions you can use to lead a discussion with your ERG, community group, or PFLAG chapter.

We hosted a conversation about this article as a part of PFLAG Connects and Something to Talk About Live on Thursday, February 24. Did you miss it? You can still watch it here! 

Article: It is time to start celebrating Black asexuality in media

Source: LGBTQ Nation

Author: Tyler Stevenson

Questions for Discussion:

  1. How much do you know about asexuality and aromanticism? Where did you learn what you know? If you wanted to learn more about the experiences of people who are ace and/or aro where would you go to learn more?
  2. In this article, the author asserts that ace representation in media has centered white, socially awkward, male characters who are engrossed in their work,  which perpetuates negative stereotypes about people who are ace. Has that been your experience? Are there other fictional asexual characters that come to mind for you beyond those in the article? Were they explicitly identified as ace, or is that how you read them?  
  3. What can individuals do to better understand the experiences of people who are ace/aro (especially those that are not white)? What are some behaviors that you can stop or start doing that can help create more inclusive spaces for ace/aro folks?  

Bonus read: Check out “17 Books That Tackle Aromantic And Asexual Validation” which appeared in Buzzfeed, by Michele Kirichanskaya and “Ace Activist Yasmin Benoit On The Difference Between Being Asexual & Aromantic” which appeared in Bustle, by Julie Kliegman.

About Our Guests:

Marshall John Blount, board member of Asexual Outreach and member of the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs

Ways to Watch:

Also available on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn