On 6 April, people across the world will be raising awareness for International Asexuality Day. 

This day aims to celebrate the full asexual spectrum, focusing on four key themes: advocacy, celebration, education and solidarity. 

What is asexuality?

Asexuality is a spectrum of identities related to an individual not experiencing sexual attraction. It is paired with aromanticism, which refers to people who do not experience romantic attraction. 

These are collectively known as A-spec identities, which encompasses a number of different experiences within these categories. 

Asexual people are part of the LGBTQ+ umberella, because they do not experience attraction to another gender.

Many asexual people have found it helpful to describe their identity in more detail, so there are many sub-identities to be aware of:

• Asexuals – who don’t experience sexual attraction, but may experience other forms of attraction, such as romantic attraction.
• Aromantics – who don’t experience romantic attraction, but may experience sexual attraction.
• Aro-aces – who don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction.
• Grey-asexuals – who experience sexual attraction only very rarely.
• Demisexuals – who experience sexual attraction only after forming a close bond with someone.
• Sex-repulsed asexuals – who have an aversion to the idea of having sex.
• Sex-favourable asexuals – who like sex despite not experiencing sexual attraction.
• Aegosexuals – who can find things arousing despite not feeling sexual attraction.

Local community support services

Keighley Pride

We are proud to be partnered with our local LGBTQ+ festival. We work together with this festival to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and celebrate by taking part in the pride parades. 

We have also worked with the Keighley Pride Flag Project, helping to create a patchwork flag to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Keighley and Craven LGBTQ+ Support Group

A local group which has been serving the LGBTQ+ community for over five years. Meetings are held each month in Keighley at The Healthy Living Centre.

Hear about Keighley’s LGBT Group from the chairman in this video.

Bradford LGBT Network

This network meets four times a year at the Equity Centre, giving individuals an opportunity to get together to share what their groups are up to and ideas for future development.

Equity Rainbow Bradford

This social group is open to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and immigrants who are keen to meet new friends and support each other.

Phoenix Trans Youth Group

Community group for young people aged between 11-21 years old. Meets every other Wednesday at the Equity Centre.

Sound LGBT

Sound is a group for young people aged 11-19 which meets in Bradford and Keighley. These groups offer a safe, confidential and supportive place to meet other people.

Why do we have a day dedicated to asexuality?

Asexuality is relatively unfamiliar to many people, so today aims to raise awareness for asexual and aromantic people. 

The day also hopes to tackle discrimination against asexual people, including a range of predjudices, such as negative attitudes, behaviours and feelings toward people who identify as part of the asexual spectrum. This may look like the belief that aromantic and asexual people:

• Are less than human or against human nature.
• Are deficient or broken as a result of mental illness.
• Have just not met the ‘right’ person.
• Are confused or ‘going through a phase’.
• Cannot experience love and have relationships.
• Are ‘prudes’; that asexuality is a choice rather than an orientation.
• Don’t face oppression and are damaging the LGBTQ+ cause.

How can we support A-spec people?

Educating yourself about asexuality is a good place to start. Take a look at some key resources, such as this Shades of Noir video and Stonewall’s six ways to be an ally to asexual people.

Validating the feelings that A-spec people have is a great way to show your support. Society tells these people that they’re broken, which can be a really difficult experience. One way to help is by not assuming that everyone has or wants a partner.

If you think you might identify as asexual, there are plenty of resources to help you explore this. This Reddit thread looks at some key asexual FAQs.