saltyaro:

I know there’s a push in the larger LGBTQ+ community to…assimilate into Straight society, and say “we’re just like you! It’s just the way our attraction operates!” (ignoring gender issues ofc)

But I…can’t get behind that, on a personal level. Like, being aro? A huge part of who I am. The way I understand the world, my values, what I find important? All linked to me being aro (and, to a lesser level, ace). 

I would be a totally different person if I was Straight. My friendships, the way I navigate through the world, the way I enjoy media,…

Is it because being aromantic is seen as too radical to basically everyone? Is it because of my other maginalized identities? I’m not too sure about that, but my aromanticism is probably the most important part in that desire to be unapogetically myself. I want that for everyone in the community, in fact, I think it’s dishonest to try and live while ignoring our experiences differ greatly from Straight people’s. 

I’ve been an activist for 2 or 3 years now – in queer circles (not LGBT+, queer). I feel better in here, even though I also work a lot around me to help LGBTQ+ kids (and even adults) come to terms with themselves (which often means a vocabulary lesson haha). I love helping people, but I only really feel comfortable, activism-wise, in queer circles. Because they’re not going to ask me to hide and look Straight, I can be loud and express my anger, fear or sadness.

It’s not perfect, we often have trouble getting together, but I think we’re doing good work, just by having a shared space.

In a lot of ways, the aro community is built on a queer logic, rather than an LGBT+ one. And I think we’re doing great. Who we are is too radical for other people? Well, fuck’em, we’ll strive by solidarity and never apologize to the world for who we are. Changing the world is a better option than erasing our experiences and hiding or playing a role our whole lives.

I think queer politics also mean, you recognize you’ll maybe never see the results of the work you’re doing. It can be pretty disheartening and discouraging – but it’s needed. I doubt what we’re doing today will see huge, societal results in our lifetime – but it doesn’t matter. Because we’re radically accepting others and, more importantly, ourselves. This in itself is something to be proud of and to be passed to future baby aros.