I’ve made a post like this before, but it’s valid if you are struggling with accepting yourself for you asexuality or aromanticism. When there are so few accurate representations of aspec folks, combined with how single people are so demonized, it’s definitely hard. But don’t worry, you’ll get there.
potential power move: aromantics claiming robin hood for our own by pointing out that the character is a patched-together creation from many different sources and didn’t even have any love interests in the earliest legends
Even if I was given the opportunity to fall in love with someone romantically, I wouldn’t take it.
If I was given the chance to stop being aromantic, and begin experiencing romantic feelings like most people do, I would not take it.
Even though it would mean that I wouldn’t have to deal with all the crap aromantics get–being treated like we’re villainous, inhuman, disreputable, heartless, selfish, lying, robotic, immature, or nonexistent–even then, I would still choose to be aromantic instead of romantic.
Why? Because being aromantic is part of who I am. It has shaped my past experiences, and made me the person I am today. And I happen to like the person I am. If you changed the sort of emotions I can feel toward people, you’d be changing a fundamental part of my personality. I don’t want some “love interest” to change me like that.
I don’t care if other people think “falling in love” would be good for me or bring me happiness. I would rather pursue myown form of happiness, than give up part of myself in order to conform to what other people think will make me happy.
Every day, the culture I live in throws messages at me: Romance is important. Don’t you want romance? Of course you do. Romance is necessary. Your life is unfulfilling and lonely if you don’t have a romantic partner. You should date. You should seek out romantic love. You should want this emotion that we are telling you to want. If you don’t want it, then you’re just lying to yourself. We know what’s best for you. We know that you want it.
And this is my response to those messages: No.
It may be hard for some people to believe, but I truly, genuinely don’t want romantic love. I don’t miss it. I do not feel incomplete, or lonely, or inferior because I don’t have a romantic partner. And I will not allow society to make me feel like I am incomplete or inferior. I used to feel that way; I used to believe those messages.
Hey, shout out to them Ace and Aro spec boys of All Ages out there. 18? 24? 30s? 40s? You aren’t broken, and there’s nothing wrong with you, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just keep being you, okay? I’m proud of you. ♤♡♤
Submissions for the first Aro/Ace Collective zine are open!
I have been wanting to do a project like this for a while now to raise awareness of aromantic and asexual identities so I’m very excited to get this ball rolling! That being said, the theme of the first issue will be “Awareness”; awareness of aromonaticism and asexuality in oneself, awareness from others, awareness as an orientation, the interpretation is up to you!
Rules of Submission:
A short comic (no minimum length) by creators who identify on the aro or ace spectrum regarding the theme of “Awareness” and aromanticism and/or asexuality
Digital, watercolor, charcoal, any medium!
Content that is rated no higher than PG-13 (in order to allow the greatest number of people to enjoy the zine)
Original work, please do not submit art made by anyone but yourself nor can it be fanart based off another person’s work (collaborations are totally fine!)
Any genre! Fiction, non-fiction, autobiographical, fantasy, all fair game
Other Info
The project is not for profit, the completed zine will be available as a free PDF (release date TBD). All creators will be credited and linked and retain all rights to their original work. Please refrain from posting your completed work in its entirety until after the release of the zine, the your work is yours to do with what you will ~*
Submission Deadline is December 22nd
Please submit completed works to AroAceCollective@gmail.com as JPEG or PNG files at a minimum of 72 dpi (300 dpi preferred) along with the info you’d like credited in the zine (your name/links to your work, ect).
I will be happy to take any questions or thoughts through email or DM ~*
This article is from 2005 and was at a time of controversy surrounding a video Nickelodeon put out supporting diversity and tolerance of differing family types. While SpongeBob has been confirmed ace, I’m still a fan of the idea that he’s a gay ace or at the very least in a qpr with Patrick.
with thanksgiving on the way, i hope all of you make it through the awkwardly invasive questions about your love life that your relatives will send your way
¯_( ಠ_ಠ)_/¯ 