The A-spec (also written as aspec) is an umbrella term that encompasses both the asexual and aromantic spectra.[1] Identities under the umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.
The term is sometimes more broadly used to include other identities with the "a"-prefix, such as agender.[2]
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Etymology
The term a-spec, or aspec is short for aspectrum.[1][2]
History
It is thought that the term "apsec" was first used to describe the asexual spectrum in late 2015 or early 2016.[1]
Controversy
There is some controversy around the term "aspec" having been appropriated from the autistic community.[1][3]
Community
Identities under the umbrella
Asexual spectrum
- Main article: Asexual spectrum
The asexual spectrum flag.
The asexual spectrum, abbreviated as acespec[4] or ace-spec[5], refers to sexual orientations that are asexual or are closely related to asexuality. Identities under the asexual umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.[5][6][7]
Aromantic spectrum
- Main article: Aromantic spectrum
The aromantic spectrum flag.
The aromantic spectrum, abbreviated as arospec[4] or aro-spec[5], refers to romantic orientations that are aromantic or are closely related to aromanticism when placed on a spectrum ranging from aromantic to alloromantic.[4][5][7]
It is also used by people whose aromantic identities are conditional, unreliable, or atypical to societal expectations, and by people who simply do not wish to label it further.[4] Identities under the aromantic umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.
Flag
The a-spec flag was created by Tumblr user The-Moon-Is-Aroace on March 25, 2019.[8] The compass rose in the middle is a symbol of how individuals all experience romantic and sexual attraction in different ways, if at all. The green and purple are on opposite sides of the quadrant to show that asexuality and aromanticism are their own separate and independent identities, with the black and grey quadrants connecting them. Black represents the aroace community and grey represents grey communities.
There are various other a-spec flags.
Another a-spec flag, featuring an aloe vera plant.
The aloe vera a-spec flag was designed by Tumblr users Sapphic-Squirrel and Hetaces with help from the Inclusionist Discord Server and was posted on November 17, 2019.<ref name="aloe vera flag">"Hello Everyone! I want to present a community flag for the A-spec community!" on web.archive.org (Archived on January 24, 2022). It was designed to mimic the sapphic, achillean, diamoric, and pluralian flags with three stripes and one plant. The green is for aromantics, the purple for asexuals, and grey is for the grey area between a- identities and allo- identities (which would represent greyasexuals, greyromantics, demisexuals, demiromantics, other mesi aros, mesi aces, split attraction users, and those that don't have solid labels but know they are somewhere under the umbrellas of asexual or aromantic).
The aloe vera flag, redesigned.
The aloe vera flag was redesigned by RavenFire803 on July 1th, 2021 to represent the larger community. The aloe symbol was made to be both green and purple instead of just green to show balance.
A striped a-spec flag.
The striped a-spec flag was coined by RavenFire803 on July 6th, 2021. It has no confirmed meaning.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Do you, per chance, know when asexuals first started using the term 'aspec'?" on web.archive.org (Archived on January 23, 2022).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Aspec Safety Net" on web.archive.org (Archived on January 24, 2022).
- ↑ "Aspec does not and has never meant ‘Autism spectrum’." on web.archive.org (Archived on January 24, 2022).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "All Aromantic Terms" by AUREA on AUREA - Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy (Archived on January 29, 2022).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity by The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. Published 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781839976384
- ↑ "General FAQ" by Asexual Visibility and Education Network on Asexual Visibility and Education Network (Archived on January 8, 2022).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro: An Illustrated Exploration by Victoria Barron. Published 2023 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 9781839977145
- ↑ Template:Citeweb