Gray asexuality

Gray asexuality is considered the gray area between asexuality and sexuality, in which a person may only experience sexual attraction on occasion.[1][2] The term 'demisexuality' was coined in 2006 by Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN).[3] The prefix 'demi-' derives from the Latin dimidium, meaning "divided in half". The term 'demisexual' comes from the concept being described as being "halfway between" sexual and asexual.

The term 'gray-A' covers a range of identities under the asexuality umbrella, or on the asexual spectrum, including demisexuality.[6] Other terms within this spectrum include 'semisexual', 'asexual-ish' and 'sexual-ish'.[4] The gray-A spectrum usually includes individuals who very rarely experience sexual attraction; they experience it only under specific circumstances.[2][7] Sari Locker, a sexuality educator at Teachers College of Columbia University, argued during a Mic interview that gray-asexuals "feel they are within the gray area between asexuality and more typical sexual interest".[8] A gray-A identifying individual may have any romantic orientation, because sexual and romantic identities are not necessarily linked.[3][4]

The demisexual flag, in which the black chevron represents asexuality, gray represents gray asexuality and demisexuality, white represents sexuality, and purple represents community[9]

A demisexual person does not experience sexual attraction until they have formed a strong emotional connection with a prospective partner.[2][5] The definition of "emotional bond" varies from person to person inasmuch as the elements of the split attraction model can vary.[10][11] Demisexuals can have any romantic orientation.[12][13] People in the asexual spectrum communities often switch labels throughout their lives, and fluidity in orientation and identity is a common attitude.[3]

Demisexuality, as a component of the asexuality spectrum, is included in queer activist communities such as GLAAD and The Trevor Project, and itself has finer divisions.[14][15]

Demisexuality is a common theme (or trope) in romantic novels which has been termed 'compulsory demisexuality'.[16] Within fictitious prose, the paradigm of sex being only truly pleasurable when the partners are in love is a trait stereotypically more commonly associated with female characters. The intimacy of the connection also allows for an exclusivity to take place.[17][13]

Post-doctorate research on the subject has been done since at least 2013, and podcasts and social media have also raised public awareness of the sexual orientation.[18] Some public figures who have come out as demisexual, such as Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, have also raised awareness, though typically face some degree of ridicule for their sexuality.[19]

• Bogaert, Anthony F. (2012). Understanding Asexuality. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-1-4422-0099-9. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
• Cerankowski, Karli June; Milks, Megan (2014). Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-71442-6. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
• Weinberg, Thomas S.; Newmahr, Staci D. (2015). Selves, Symbols, and Sexualities: An Interactionist Anthology. SAGE Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-1-4522-7665-6. Retrieved March 4, 2015.