Grey-asexual (or gray-asexual, also known as greysexual) is a sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum, referring to a gray area around or adjacent to asexuality.
Some grey-asexual experiences may include:
- Experiencing sexual attraction only infrequently
- Experience sexual attraction very weakly
- Feeling uncertain about whether they experience sexual attraction
- Feeling alienated from sexuality
- Finding asexuality a useful idea, even if it isn't a perfect fit[1][2]
Grey-asexual can also be used as an umbrella term for those on the asexual spectrum who don't self-describe specifically as just asexual, including demisexuals and others.
Greyasexual can be an orientation on its own or be combined with other sexual orientations. For example, one could be greysexual and gay (grey-homosexual).
The romantic counterpart to grey-asexual is greyromantic.
History
The concept of gray-asexuality developed in the early 2000s on the AVEN forums.[3] In 2003, an AVEN member proposed the concept of "semisexuality," naming a half-way point between being asexual and not. Later, in 2006, AVEN member KSpaz proposed the term "gray-a" to describe the "fuzzy" space in the asexual spectrum.[4]
Symbolism
In 2009 and 2010, there was an organized community-wide effort to find consensus on an asexual community flag, resulting in the black, gray, white, and purple design shown here.[5] The asexual flag includes a black stripe for asexuality and grey stripe for grey-asexuals.
In 2013, another flag design was proposed specifically for grey-asexuality via upload to Wikipedia.[6] This flag design has not necessarily been as embraced as widely as the ace community flag.