#as someone on the aroace spectrum

[spoopy-cactus]

pride month 👍

[aroacearchangel]

happy pride month. if someone is pressuring you into a romantic or sexual relationship you have the right to kill them with hammers

[a-walking-fandom-reference]

it’s gross that every aroace character’s identity is seen as a threat to fandom… that it becomes a battle of semantics and excuses to find ways to ignore it… maybe think about why a character not feeling romantic or sexual attraction (and possibly not being interested in those relationship/partnering) is so scary to you… why it threatens your enjoyment of media/fandom…

[pikp0kcas3]

The Hazbin Hotel fandom’s issue with accepting aromanticism and asexuality

Now that it is officially Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, I want to talk about this!

I find that, as an aroace myself, I am constantly grasping at good representation and coming up empty— it usually ends up in one of two ways.

One: the character is portrayed as emotionless, cold, and robotic in nature. It’s the question aromantic and/or asexual people are often asked: “Are you heartless?” The answer is no, of course, but general media makes it out to be the opposite.

Or two: Their lack of attraction is seen as something to “fix” because they “haven’t found the right one yet”, and they end up with a partner as a “happy ending”.

It frustrates me greatly because of how little people actually see aromanticism or asexuality as a true part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

So when I watched Hazbin Hotel, and I found out about Alastor being aroace, I was over the moon. I was on cloud nine. I also saw how his voice actor has looked up the term as an attempt to learn about aroaces, which makes me OVERJOYED?? Amir is truly a blessing, and I love that he’s proud to embody a character that’s part of our community. It’s so beautiful to finally have a proper character, a fan favorite at that, who just so happens to be aroace— and that’s another thing I love about this.

It’s never explicitly stated in the show (though it is stated in interviews), but it’s rather clear when you’re watching, isn’t it? Alastor’s aversion to any sort of sexual advancement, coupled with Rosie’s blatant “I know you’re an ace in the hole” comment sort of spell out his asexuality pretty clearly, as well as what side of the spectrum he falls upon. In addition, his Valentine’s day card was strictly platonic, which caters to his aromantic side. It feels so validating to finally be represented, to finally have a character in media who shares the same lack of interest in romance and sex as I do.

When I entered the fandom to look for more content, I kind of expected to see the same respect for Alastor’s orientation there too. But that… wasn’t the case? I am fully aware that aromanticism and asexuality are both spectrums— of course, aromantic and/or asexual people can enter those kinds of relationships. I’m not denying that and they belong in the community as much as anyone else on the spectrum.

But, the more I see the same line again and again and again, the more it feels like an excuse to just ship what you want.

Usually I don’t mind shipping? I’m often a firm believer in people shipping what they like as long as it’s harmless and they don’t go crazy over it. I also know for a fact that Viv doesn’t have a problem with people shipping her characters. They are fictional, after all.

But in this case, people are ignoring the very thing that makes Alastor a part of the aroace community! People are ignoring his lack of romantic or sexual attraction!

Is this not the same as changing a gay character’s orientation to suit a straight ship? If not, how so? I’m told that we are a part of this community, so why aren’t we being treated like it? Why is it so hard to accept the people on the end of the spectrum who aren’t interested?

Something I’ve been noticing throughout my life is that society has not exactly progressed very much on the idea of accepting asexual or aromantic identities. Maybe we have, a little, since the old days— but hell, people in “the old days”, which in truth wasn’t very long ago, believed that asexuality was a medical condition to be “fixed” by taking the right medication or having sex. That’s a pretty low bar to clear. And on the romance side, you’re seen as a “late bloomer” or “boring” if you don’t express interest. These days, being friends with someone is treated like a gateway to them possibly becoming a lover. Not getting married, not going on dates, not wanting a partner— it’s all treated like a crime when it’s not.

Maybe I’m selfish, or sensitive, or I’m butthurt over nothing, or I’m making it all about me. Maybe I’m gatekeeping or whatever the term is. But please, please, please, I just want an aroace character like me who simply is not interested in sex or romance.

And I want fandom to respect that. I admire the creations that fans make— the art, the animatics, the writing and the character analysis. And I want people to keep creating because creation is indeed a beautiful thing.

But I really would like people to treat aroace identities like they’re important. Like it’s more than just a spectrum to get wiggle room to wrangle in another ship.

[akard-kiwi-ao3]

aaauuugh im nervous to post this. Throws this at the Toxichero fans and runs

...Also Griefer is a very aggressive kisser and Player won't admit that they enjoy it because HE KEEPS MAKING THEIR LIPS BLEED--GRIEFER STOP BUSTING THEIR LIP OPEN, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BUTT YOUR HEAD TO THEIR FACE!!! THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS!!!

[merely-a-caricature]

Kissing on the lips. No. Why? I don’t get it. Truly? What is so enticing about putting your lips together? Don’t even get me started on tongues…

[askthehedgehogs]

Are you guys gay?

Honestly who knows. I’ve only been attracted to One Guy.

Same… well. Two.

… two??

Yes. You, and Big.

Big the Cat??

Yes???

Wh. I. Wha.

Isn’t everyone a little bit attracted to Big..?

[boredlime]

happy asexual awareness week! I made a drawing of the flag to celebrate!

it's not much, but I felt like doing something haha! feel free to use it for whatever!

[kittykatninja321]

Post-Flashpoint comics have been trying to push the idea of Jason as a ladies man and each time I have just not been convinced I say this with all the love in my heart I will concede to the fact that Jason Todd has had sex maybe 3 times. If I’m being generous

[shitpostingkats]

-

-

When I tell you I fucking sobbed my eyes out.

[thebowieconstricker]

In my opinion, one of the great asexual experiences (tm) I had as a child was when I’d see those videos like “like this if you want your crush to kiss you” or you get sent a text message that’s like “forward to 20 people or your crush will hate you” and thinking to myself “I’m going to deliberately not do this because I don’t want my crush to acknowledge my existence in any way actually.” Like hmm. Wonder where that comes from.

[cerulean-crow]

Twicord my beloved <3 Using my redesigns this time!

Fun fact! This was basically my first real ship, basically ever! I was never too into shipping growing up and I was very confused about just how much discourse surrounded it and how absolutely feral some people got over their ships.

But Mlp was what would open me up to stuff like multishipping and crack shipping and how to enjoy a good rare pair- so at one point I just decided I was going to ship something I didn’t see anyone else really shipping. Thus! Twicord!!

At a certain point it stopped being a “joke” and this pairing has since owned my heart for the last decade <3

Sketch and flats under the cut because why not- I tried rendering this a bit differently and I like how it came out

[a-confused-loser-venting]

update.

pride was so cool and i had so much fun

[pixvoxx]

I desperately need someone to explain aromantism to me. The Google definition is not enough. I know what it is, obviously, but for some reason, it is SO difficult for me to understand. Whenever I read about aromantism, I feel like I'm only reading about aroace's, not aro's.

Whenever I think of aromatic, I can't help but think negative about it, because it involves sexual attraction. I'm a fool when it comes to sexual attraction because I don't feel it, so I don't know what it's like. And I also suffer from sexual trauma..but I don't know if that's a valid reason. Throughout my life, I've seen sexual attraction as kind of a messy thing.

By thinking negatively about aromantism, I mean: Do aromatics only care about sex in a relationship(if they happen to be in one)? Or: Do aromantics just want sex, and no fully committed relationships? Those questions has been on my mind ever since I found out about aromantism.

And I know aromantism is a spectrum, the whole Aroace community is. But I'm talking about the iconic, original aromantic flag we all know and love.

I'm asking because I feel terrible for feeling like this about people of my own community, and I feel like I'm dehumanizing aro's because I can't understand how their sexual attraction works.

Don't worry, I will NEVER hate or be aro-phobic to anyone for the way they feel a certain attraction, best believe that.

If ANYONE, could answer my questions, I'll make you a nice dinner.

(please, it's stressing me out— I cry when I'm stressed out—)

[francicide]

Lowk a hot take- Kind of pissed how people in fandoms cannot be normal when an aroace character is shipped with a (presumably alloallo) character.

“You’re going to erase their AroAce identity if you ship them with-“ No. No, it isn’t erasing their AroAce identity or experience. You need to be normal about AroAces who have queerplatonic relationships, niche relationships, and/or still have sexual/romantic relationships.

You’re actively covering other AroAce experiences by not allowing an AroAce character to be anything more than a “””stereotype””” of AroAce experiences. They do not have to be revolted by sex/romance. Stop forcing your “ideals” onto other people. Not all AroAce experiences are the same.

[timekeepers-memoir]

i think they'd work great as a qpr

@lemonade-tree7 @lemedstudent2021