#when i see ONE THING representing lithros i go.... you didnt forget me (⁠ ⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥́⁠⌢⁠⚈̥̥̥̥̥̀⁠)

[tiredpoets]

SO GLAD SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT THIS!! I identify the same. For someone lithromantic going into the aro community for the first time, it felt very black or white. Like either I'm romance-less and repulsed so it's easier for me to be accepted or full-romance alloromantic because I love the fantasy of romance. I kept trying to convince myself I've never felt crushes cuz I just wanted to feel wholy apart of the aro community. I get that the aro community promotes that they're really accepting of people anywhere on the spectrum of romantic attraction, but more often than not, even with my aro friends, I still feel more like an outsider.

I *love* romance. It's practically the only books I read, the only shows I watch, and the only fantasy that gets me to sleep. It's always comforted me to just imagine it. To imagine I can really find someone who would love me like all those storybooks. (And... some sexual fantasies too sometimes.) Just. As a fantasy and never a reality. It helps me feel better about both my internalized aphobia and my lack of reciprocality. I feel a lot of guilt & shame about being lithromantic in the first place. I would love to see that represented so me and other lithros don't feel so alone.

The lack of romance positive aro and sex positive ace representation (it's just my personal opinion and experience) made me think for the longest time I wasn't aroace

But I am lmao

I fucking love romance, I have a lot of crushes (and no I don't chose them and don't have them just because people usually have crushes) and I get very horny for some people, but I'm on the spectrum?

I use the label lithromantic for my romantic attraction (Basically I love having crushes and it happens that it evolves into love, but if there's a chance for us to get in a relationship the feelings die and I don't want it anymore) and I still don't know what to use for my sexual attraction, I just know that I'd mostly wouldn't engage in any sexual activity or very rarely

But yeah all to say that aroace can totally mean sex/romance repulsed but it's not an universal experience, I may be "repulsed" in the way that I couldn't engage in it, but just thinking about engaging in this or reading/watching things about it doesn't repulse me at all, I love it (except for sexual things when I'm not in the mood because it's just awkward)