NEWSASEXUAL ISSUES

If you tell someone that you're asexual, they'll probably give you a confused look. If you search the news for asexual, you'll find gossip related to Lady Gaga or Elena Kagan, scientific research on asexual reproduction in rotifers, or perhaps a study on parents thinking their kids aren't sexually active. There are only rare articles that actually seriously discuss asexuality. Even in the LGBT community, asexuals are often ignored, invisible, and misunderstood.

But asexuality is a valid sexual orientation, much like homosexuality or bisexuality. Asexuals don't experience sexual attraction, but their needs and desires are otherwise similar to sexual people. Many asexual people are attracted to others, they just don't associate attraction to someone with sexual desires. Some asexuals seek nonsexual romantic relationships to fulfill their emotional needs. Asexual people vary in their arousal; some experience little or no arousal, while others are aroused but don't associate arousal with desire to be sexual with a partner.