Abusexual is an identity on the asexual spectrum describing a lack of sexual attraction due to non-physical sexual trauma, such as public sexual harassment or cyberbullying in a sexual context[1]. The identity is closely related to its less specific and often more violent counterpart, caedsexual. Similar to caedsexual, using the label abusexual would by extension imply that one is also asexual.
Due to the nature of abusexuality, it is advised that only those who have experienced such traumas use the label.
History
The term was coined in early May of 2023 by Tumblr user stardusted-queerness[2]. It was coined because the creator didn't feel they had the proper experience with sexual trauma to use the term caedsexual. They felt that their trauma did not fill the criteria for being "true" sexual trauma and so they should not use the term.[1]
Flag
The flag for abusexual was created at the same time as the label, and consists of five horizontal stripes with the following colours and meanings[1]:
Black represents asexuality.
Grey represents greysexuality.
Teal represents sexual trauma survivors.
White represents allosexuality.
Purple represents the asexual community.