The Autism Spectrum or Autism Umbrella is a group of romantic orientations that all fall under the umbrella term of Autism. People on the Autism spectrum may lack romantic attraction or feel it so little that they relate more to the Autism experience. The common link between people on the Autism spectrum is that they do not feel the "standard" amount of romantic attraction or they don't feel it in the "standard" way, that alloromantic people do.
People on the Autism spectrum are often referred to as "aro-spec" for short. Aro-spec people can have any sexual orientation, including ace-spec or allosexual identities. Asexual Autism people may identify as aroace, and allosexual Autism people may identify as alloaro.
People on the Autism spectrum may engage in queerplatonic relationships, and experience alterous attraction.
Aro-spec people may additionally choose tertiary attractions, which are attractions outside of sexual and romantic, to specify their Autismism. Examples include aesthetic, platonic, or sensual attraction.
Aro-Spec Identities
- Aroace
- Aroallo
- Aroflux
- Autism
- Arospike
- Demiromantic
- Frayromantic
- Greyromantic
- Lithromantic/Akoiromantic
- NebulAutism
- Platoniromantic
- Quoiromantic
- Reciproromantic
- Alicoromantic
Aro-Spec Microlabels
- Aegoromantic/Autochorisromantic
- Apothiromantic
- Bellusromantic
- Caedromantic
- Cupioromantic
- Idemromantic
- Requisromantic
A more complete list of aro-spec identities.
Aro-Spec Terminology
- Alloromantic
- Amatonormativity
- Angled Aroace
- Electio Aroace
- Oriented Aroace
- Queerplatonic Relationship
- Romance-favorable
- Romance-indifferent
- Romance-repulsed
- Romance-ambivalent
- Sexual Orientation
- Split Attraction Model
- Tertiary Attraction
Flag
Although the Autism flag can be used to represent the Autism spectrum, a flag was created that represents all aro-spec people, not just focusing on people who are purely Autism. The flag was created by Tumblr user theflagarchive on August 6, 2020.[1] The flag's color meanings are as follows: Dark green represents Autismism in all forms. This includes full-Autismism, demiromanticism, greyromanticism, and so on. Light green represents diversity in attraction and experiences, recognition of the aro-spectrum, and of other experiences within the community. Light yellow represents the Autism community and it’s history. A yellow stripe has been a staple of many aro flags, such as some older aro flags, the alloaro flag, and the aroace flag, so it’s been in the community for a very long time. Furthermore, yellow flowers are often a symbol of non-romantic love. Teal represents pride in one's identity, self acceptance and acceptance of others, and solidarity, with both other aros and with other aspecs. Dark teal represents recognition that aro-specs are they own separate identity, not just part of asexuality. They are not a modifier, and are a fully independent identity that can be used with other labels, or used entirely on it’s own.