More experiments :3 this was a 2 1/2 hour work #sketch #doodle #art #artist #digital #lgbtq #aromantic #pride #flag

Die Aro Week ist in vollem Gange und passend dazu folgt hier der Detailablauf auf den Samstagsaustsausch!

*hastags*
#queer #aktivismus #activism #lgbtpride #lgbtqcommunity #germany #Aromantic #AroWeek2025 #AroVisibility #AromanticSpectrum #AroCommunity #SamstagsAustausch #AspecGerman #QueerEvents #AroSpaces #CommunitySupport #NeurodivergentAndProud #DisabledAndQueer #PolyamoryCommunity #NonBinaryVoices #Beziehungsanarchie
#FediLGBTQIA+ #FediQueer

It's apparently aromantic awareness week. At 60, I only realised a few years ago that this is what I was. Before that, I didn't have a name, only the reality.

One of the things I always knew, from quite a young age, was that I would never be married. As a teen and young man, I was painfully aware of the pressure to settle down and get into a settled relationship. But, to be honest, I never had the desire to. It's not that I didn't try, but it was certainly more in terms of thinking that I should do, rather than because I had any real desire to. It was not a pleasant time in my life. The relationships I did attempt never ended well, which was hardly surprising and almost totally my fault and I always felt a certain amount of guilt about that. I also felt a degree of shame about the way I felt and the need to hide it. It was yet another way in which I was different and the sort of different that stood out and set me apart from others.

Of course, being an undiagnosed autistic, this feeling was nothing new. I had always been different, in so many ways and learning how to hide that, at least as best as I could, had become second nature by then. It also gave me another reason to, that I was so fundamentally broken, that I couldn't even function normally in this way. That it wasn't me, it was all the ways in which I was wrong and dysfunctional and the low self-esteem that arose from this, that made me this way and that if only I could find the key to understanding and therefore potentially fixing this, then I could be alright.

Not that I was going to get to that point for a long time, or that fixing this was ever really an option. But, as the years rolled by and the pressure to be in a relationship faded, I did manage to settle more into my solitary life, without feeling the guilt and failure as much as I did, but with it still being there. Of course, as a man, I had the advantage of being able to do this. There is a quantifiable and appalling difference in the way men and women are treated in this respect. In the ways in which society views unmarried, or unpartnered, men and women, that has nothing to do with the reality and everything to do with prejudice, bigotry and sexism. Something that may never entirely be eradicated. Because the normative expectations of what it means and the ways it should be expressed are deeply engrained.

But, the simple fact is that, being in a traditional romantic relationship is as impossible for me to imagine, or want, as being in a homosexual relationship is for a straight person, or vice versa. We are the way we are, simple as. Not because we're broken, or wrong, or defective in any way. But, because it is our nature. I am aromantic, just as I'm autistic, and there really is nothing wrong with that.

#Aromantic
#Autism

I think this is from Finn Longman is worth reading re history, sexualities and specifically asexuality and "friendship".

Mocking the old school historians' adage of "clearly they were just friends" has become common but... sometimes they actually were, sometimes there's no "just" about friendship, and to understand past people we should make earnest attempts to broaden our view of what relationships can look like.

https://finnlongman.com/no-platonic-explanation/

Lets celebrate #Aromantic Week with a thread of #books/ blogs/ youtubes etc which include, or better centre on aromantic experiences!
(#Asexual content also welcome ;)

Writers & authors, drop your links, text type (genre if applicable), blurbs (& cover image) here!

#LGBTQIA+ #BookSky

it's #aromanticspectrumawarenessweek !

aromanticism is a romantic orientation spectrum. people in this spectrum have notably reduced, or often absent frequency and intensity of feelings of romantic attraction. aromanticism is not a choice, just like being gay or transgender

it's a common misconception that aromantic people don't ever get crushes; this is not true for all arospec people! it's a spectrum. some may simply not feel that at all, while others not as frequently, and/or not as intensely, or only under specific circumstances, etc. i'm arospec myself, i've only ever had one crush in my whole life. but it was pretty strong!

some people may feel alienated or "broken" for not feeling something that others do feel, or feeling it differently. if you're reading this and you feel this way: you're not broken, you're perfectly valid for being the way you are, and you deserve respect, support and acceptance! ​​

and to those who reject aromanticism or think it's weird, please don't spread hate and negativity! people have the right to live as who they are without having to worry about being hated or discriminated, as long as they don't cause any harm!

#aromantic #arospec #lgbtqia

Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week!
February 16th – 22nd, 2025

#aro #aromantic #asaw

It's aromantic spectrum awareness week!

Did you know that the law discriminates against aromantic people?
If two people marry (you know, that thing where they promise somewhat long lasting romantic love to each other) they get a lot of benefits* that e.g. queerplatonic partners often can't get.

*in most countries

Its #Aromantic Week!

Reminder: NOT ALL humans experience romantic attraction and or interest in romantic relationships.

Yes society is couple-centric & I find fiction fixated with romance, but some of us (me!) ONLY love you platonically!

My Experiences: https://elisecarlson.com/2024/10/01/on-being-asexual-aromantic/

#LGBTQIA+ #AroWeek