Asexual Inclusive Sex Ed

Prepared by the Asexual Visibility and Education Network and Aces NYC

Why Include Asexuality?

Roughly 1% of the population is asexual1, which means that most health education
teachers will have asexual students at some point in their careers. These students are
still likely to engage in sexual behavior at some point in their lives, and are more likely to
do so in risky ways if they feel that their asexuality is a problem to be fixed.

Key Terms:
Asexual:
A person who does
not experience sexual
attraction.
Ace:
Grey-A:
An umbrella term
A person on the referring to individuals
spectrum between identifying on the asexual
sexual and asexual. spectrum (asexual,
demi, grey-a, etc.)
Romantic
Orientation:
Refers to an individuals
pattern of romantic attraction
based on a persons gender.
(e.g. Panromantic,
homoromantic,

Demisexual:
aromantic, etc.) Romantic
A person who
Attraction:
experiences sexual The desire to form a
attraction only after romantic though not
forming a deep necessarily sexual
emotional bond. connection with
someone.

1. Bogaert A.F. (2004) Asexuality: Its Prevalence and Associated Factors in a National Probability Sample. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 279-287
 Asexual Inclusive Sex Ed
Prepared by the Asexual Visibility and Education Network and Aces NYC
Making Health Education More
Affirming and Inclusive
Include Ace Terminology:
Many ace students are looking for signs that their experiences
are valid and that they are not alone. Simply including asexual,
demisexual and grey-a in a list of sexual orientations can or gender non-binary in ways that defy traditional norms.
send a powerful message to ace students. This also provides
students who may not know about asexuality new knowledge
about the range of sexual desire they or others may feel.
Clearly Distinguish Sex and Emotional
Intimacy:
Most aces desire and build emotionally intimate relationships.
These relationships may look like romantic partnerships, close
friendships, connections with family and community, or deep
relationships with themselves. Talking about ace experiences
of intimacy reinforces that ace students are not broken and
creates a useful conversation for all students.
Talk about Romantic Orientation:
Separating sexual from romantic orientation helps students
imagine the complex ways that intimate relationships might or
might not involve sex.
Avoid statements like all people have
sexual feelings:
These statements reinforce a common message that asexuality
does not exist, and that a lack of sexual attraction is a problem
that must be fixed.
Avoid statements like asexual people
are ok being alone:
While this is true for some aces (and is also true for some sexual
people), it falsely implies that aces are destined to spend their
lives in isolation.
For more information:
www.asexuality.org
Discuss Gender Expression:
Being ace raises complex questions around gender, and many
aces choose to express themselves as masculine, feminine,
Acknowledging that gender expression is something that
everyone must explore and discover for themselves can help
create a safe classroom for all students.
Discuss Consent:
Many people (not just aces) enjoy cuddling, kissing, and other
forms of touch in situations where they do not want to have
sex. Encourage students not to make assumptions about the
kinds of touch that others enjoy, and to ask for verbal consent
(Would you like a hug?) early and often. Make it clear that
desire for touch does not imply desire for sex, even if sex has
already happened in a relationship.
Avoid equating asexuality and
celibacy:
Celibacy is a choice to not engage in sexual activity, while
asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction. A celibate person may
experience sexual attraction and choose not to act on it. An
asexual person may choose to have sex for reasons other than
sexual attraction.
Avoid stating that asexual people
never have sex:
Some asexual people choose to have sex, either as a way to
connect with a partner, out of curiosity, or because of natural
sexual fluidity. Others never have sex and focus on other forms
of physical and emotional intimacy.