Commonly Used Terms:

A quick disclaimer: I do not plan on using my blog as a sight primarily used for educational purposes. I plan to share personal stories and my experiences as an asexual. 🙂 However, I am aware that there is a possibility that not everyone who finds my blog will know all of the terms I use often. So, here they are!

• Alloromantic: people who experience romantic attraction. Often shortened to allo.
• Allosexual: a person who experiences sexual attraction. Often shortened to allo. (Allo is occasionally used to describe those who are alloromantic and allosexual as well.)
• Aphobia: discrimination against asexual people, also known as acephobia. Negative attitudes or behaviors towards ace people.
• Aromantic: a person who experiences little to no romantic attraction. Often abbreviated to aro.
• Arospec: a spectrum which encompasses romantic orientation between alloromantic and aromantic.
• Asexual: a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. Often abbreviated as ace.
• Aspec: anyone who has little to no sexual or romantic attraction. An umbrella term for anyone in the asexual or aromantic community.
• Cisgender: relating to a person who’s biological sex corresponds with their personal identity and gender, otherwise known as someone who is not transgender.
• Cishet: an abbreviation for those who are cisgender and heterosexual.
• Compulsory heterosexuality: often referred to as comphet is the theory that heterosexuality is assumed, specifically that all women are attracted to men.
• Conan Gray: a singer who makes amazing music I bring up in nearly every blog post. The love of my life. The most beautiful person on the planet.
• Heterosexual: a person attracted to people of the opposite sex.
• Homophobia: dislike of or prejudice against gay people.
• Gay/queer: terms I use to describe the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole, or to describe my attraction and others who are attracted to the same sex.
• Gender non conforming: a person who does not match masculine or feminine gender norms. Often shortened to gnc.
• Mlm: men who love men. Used as an umbrella term to describe men who are bisexual, pansexual, gay, etc.
• Non binary: a term used to describe those who are not male or female. Identities outside of the gender binary.
• Queer platonic relationship/QPR: a committed intimate relationship that is not inherently romantic or sexual in nature. Differs from a close friendship by having the same structure as a romantic relationship. An intimate friendship.
• Queer platonic partner/QPP: a name for someone in a QPR.
• Sapphic: relating to lesbians or lesbianism, also used to refer to women who are attracted to women.
• Wlw: women who love women. Used as an umbrella term to describe women who are bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, etc.

Other Resources:

To learn more about ace and aro spec identities, or for a more educational introduction to the community, check out some of these websites:

• AVEN: Asexual Visibility and Education Network
• AUREA: Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy.
• Trevor Project