Asexual

Asexual (often shortened to ace) is a sexuality defined by a lack of sexual attraction. Being asexual does not mean that one is unable to experience romantic attraction, though some asexuals are also aromantic. Asexuals can have any romantic orientation.

It is important to note the difference between asexuality and celibacy and abstinence. Those who are abstinent or celibate choose so do to for moral or religious reasons. Whereas an asexual people may not participate in sexual activities do to a lack of attraction.

Although they lack sexual attraction some asexuals may still partake in sexual activities or be in sexual relationships. This could be for many reasons, such as, their own pleasure, the pleasure of a partner, or to have children.

Asexual can also be used as an umbrella term to describe someone on the asexual spectrum.

Flag and Symbols
In the summer of 2010 AVEN and several other asexual websites held a contest to design an asexual flag. The current asexual flag was designed by the AVEN user Standup and was uploaded on June 30th, 2010. Stripes represent the following: black for asexuals, grey for greyasexauls and demisexuals, white for allosexuals, and purple for community. The asexual community has many other symbols that represent asexuality. Purple was assossited with asexuality long before the flag, because that is the color of the AVEN website. Another common symbol is a spade, particularly the ace of spade, do to the fact that asexual is often shortened to ace, and because a spade is seen as the opposite of a heart in a deck of cards. Another symbol is a black ring worn on the middle finger of the right hand, used to subtly identify oneself as asexual is public. Cake is an informal symbol of asexuality, originating from a joke that asexuals would rather eat cake than have sex. An older asexual symbol is the AVEN triangle which was most commonly used before the asexual flag was made.

Etymology
The term asexual uses the Latin prefix a- which means 'a lack of'. Sexual refers to sexual attraction.

Asexual is also a biology term, used to describe plants and some animals that can reproduce without a partner, by creating a genetic copy of themselves.