Foundations of Asexuality and Aromanticism: Understanding the Ace and Aro Spectrum

Asexuality and aromanticism remain among the least understood orientations in public discourse, often dismissed, pathologized, or simply invisible. People who experience little or no sexual or romantic attraction frequently spend years wondering if something is wrong with them before encountering language and a community that reflects their experience. Understanding the ace and aro spectrum — its breadth, its intersections with other identities, and the relationship models that belong to it — is foundational both for people who may be ace or aro themselves and for those who love or support them. By the end of this course you will be able to define asexuality and aromanticism and explain the breadth of the ace and aro spectrums, describe the split attraction model and how it decouples different dimensions of attraction, explain what queerplatonic relationships are and how they function, identify the most common forms of erasure and misconceptions that affect ace and aro people, and discuss the role of community in supporting ace and aro identity. What you will learn: - Definitions and the spectrum: asexual, demisexual, graysexual, aromantic, demiromantic, and the continuum between each - The split attraction model: distinguishing sexual, romantic, aesthetic, sensual, and emotional attraction and why the distinction matters - Queerplatonic partnerships: what they are, how they differ from friendship and romantic partnership, and the range of forms they take - Common misconceptions and erasure: the cultural narratives that make ace and aro identities difficult to recognize or accept - The intersectionality of ace and aro identity with other aspects of gender and sexual identity - Community history and resources: the ace and aro communities, their development, and the language that has emerged from within them - Intimacy on the ace and aro spectrum: how people negotiate physical affection, emotional closeness, and partnership without assuming a shared default model of relationship - Navigating relationships and disclosure: how ace and aro people communicate their orientation to potential partners and family The course is organized as a conceptual survey of ace and aro identities, drawing on community-generated knowledge and academic research. Readings introduce each major concept and are followed by reflection prompts that invite any reader — whether exploring their own identity or seeking to understand a loved one's — to engage thoughtfully with the material. Case descriptions illustrate the diversity of lived ace and aro experience across different ages, relationship structures, and cultural contexts. This course is designed for anyone who wants to understand asexuality and aromanticism more deeply — whether exploring their own orientation, supporting someone they care about, or seeking to be a more informed ally. No prior background is required. This course is informational and educational in nature and does not constitute therapy or counseling.