The asexual spectrum or asexual umbrella is a group of sexual orientations that all fall under the umbrella term of asexual, or acespec. Individuals on the asexual spectrum may completely lack sexual attraction, feel it so little that they relate more to the asexual experience than to the allosexual experience, or experience it in some other way that is different from allosexuals. The common link between individuals on the asexual spectrum is that they do not feel the "standard" amount of sexual attraction or feel it in the "standard" way.
Individuals on the asexual spectrum are often referred to as "ace-spec" for short. Ace-spec individuals can have any romantic orientation, including aromantic.
Ace-Spec Identities
While there are numerous ace-spec identities, some are more common, like asexual, demisexual, and greysexual, and can stand on their own as identities. Other common ace-spec identities include:
- Aceflux
- Acespike
- Fictosexual
- Fraysexual
- Lithosexual, formerly known as akiosexual
- Reciprosexual
Microlabels
Some identities in the asexual spectrum are microlabels or identities that fall under the umbrella but cannot stand on their own and must be used in addition to another ace-spec label. Some common ace-spec microlabels include:
- Aegosexual, also known as autochorisexual
- Apothisexual
- Bellussexual
- Caedsexual
- Cupiosexual
- Iamvanosexual
- Myrsexual
- Placiosexual
- Requissexual
Terminology
Terms like sex-ambivalent, sex-favorable, sex-indifferent, and sex-repulsed help ace-spec individuals explain their relationship with sex. Ace-spec individuals may also have a non-standard understanding of attraction, particularly sexual attraction.
Other terms help ace-spec individuals discuss their orientation beyond sex, such as romantic orientation, the Split Attraction Model, repulsion descriptors, and tertiary attraction. Terms like angled, electio, and oriented are useful for ace-spec individuals who are also part of the aromantic spectrum, also known as "aroace."
Flag
While the original asexual flag does technically include the asexual spectrum, it is not widely considered to be the asexual spectrum flag. It is important to note that while many acespec people do not identify with the asexual flag, any acespec individual may use it if they do.
Two flags were created to represent the asexual spectrum specifically, to separate it from the original asexual flag. These flags were created by Tumblr user theflagarchive on July 25, 2020[1] and Instagram user sude.the.acespec on June 16, 2021.[2]
For the first flag, the dark blue or black stripe represents the asexual community, its history and solidarity. The purple stripe comes from the asexual flag and represents all asexual identities. The pink stripe represents self-determination, pride in one's identity, and acceptance of one's own and others' asexuality. The cream stripe represents diversity in experiences and types of attractions.
For the second flag, the black stripe represents the spectrum, sexualities that is under the asexual spectrum. The purple stripe also comes from the asexual flag and represents the community, individuals of different regions, religions, genders, sexual or romantic attractions that is in the asexual spectrum. The white stripe represents the acceptance of being in the asexual spectrum, being proud of it. The gray stripe is for the allies, and supporters that accepts the asexual spectrum community no matter what.
A third alternate ace-spec flag was created by FANDOMS user DistinctiveSoy, 20th July 2021. The purple represents all the variation of asexual identities, the white represents inclusivity, the grey represents acceptance of oneself and others, the black represents aro-ace individuals and the spiral represents how different ace-spec sexualities are from allo-spec sexualities.