International Asexuality Day

Asexuality is commonly described as a sexual orientation in which a person experiences little or no sexual attraction.

Celibacy is a behavioral choice to abstain from sexual activity, and people of any orientation may choose to be celibate.

Low sex drive or low libido refers to reduced sexual desire, which can be influenced by factors such as stress, hormones, medications, or medical and psychological conditions, and may be experienced as unwanted.

Clinical guidance distinguishes self‑identified asexuality without distress from sexual dysfunctions, which require significant distress or impairment to be considered a disorder.  

Many asexual people do want close relationships, and asexuality does not rule out romantic or emotional attraction.

Research and community resources describe romantic orientation as separate from sexual orientation, and some asexual people identify as heteroromantic, homoromantic, biromantic, panromantic, or aromantic.

Studies and qualitative reports show that some asexual people date, form long‑term partnerships, or marry, while others are content without romantic relationships.  

Demisexual and gray-asexual (or gray-ace) identities are often described as part of the asexual spectrum, sometimes called the “ace umbrella.”

Demisexual people report experiencing sexual attraction only after developing a strong emotional bond, while gray-asexual people describe experiencing sexual attraction rarely, weakly, or only under specific circumstances.

Academic and community discussions increasingly treat asexuality and related identities as a spectrum of experiences rather than a simple on/off category.  

Current diagnostic manuals and clinical commentaries do not classify asexuality itself as a mental disorder.

In systems such as the DSM‑5 and ICD‑11, low or absent sexual interest is diagnosed as a dysfunction only when it causes marked distress or impairment and is not better explained by a person’s sexual orientation.

Professional guidance emphasizes that self‑identified asexuality, when consistent with someone’s identity and not distressing, should be understood as a sexual orientation rather than a condition that requires treatment.  

Research on asexual populations has found elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts compared with some non‑asexual groups, which scholars often link to minority stress rather than to asexuality itself.

Reported challenges include stigma, disbelief about asexuality, pressure to engage in unwanted sex, fear of rejection in dating, exclusion or misunderstanding within some LGBTQ+ spaces, and mislabeling as having a sexual dysfunction.

Qualitative studies describe how invisibility and invalidation can contribute to poorer mental health outcomes for some asexual people.  

Many LGBTQ+ organizations and educational resources explicitly recognize asexuality and ace-spectrum identities as part of sexual orientation diversity, and asexuality is often included under the “+” in LGBTQIA+.

Policy and training materials on inclusive care and anti‑discrimination increasingly mention asexual people as a group that may face unique barriers.

At the same time, research and community reports note that some asexual people encounter skepticism or gatekeeping in queer spaces, which has prompted ongoing discussion about inclusion and recognition within broader LGBTQ+ movements.  

Mental health and educational resources recommend listening to how the person describes their orientation, accepting it as valid, and respecting their boundaries around intimacy.

Helpful support can include avoiding pressure to “fix” them, not insisting they try unwanted sexual experiences, and being open to forms of closeness that may or may not involve sex.

Partners are encouraged to communicate clearly about expectations for affection, romance, cohabitation, or sexual activity, while friends and family can learn about the ace spectrum and challenge dismissive or stigmatizing comments in their own circles.