A-spec

The main aspec flag

**A-spec**, or the **a spectrum**, is an umbrella term that encompasses both the asexual and aromantic spectrums and the many sexual and romantic orientations that are part of them. These orientations involve conditional attractions or experiencing no attraction. It can also be used as an identity term for people who do not differentiate their experiences of conditional or no attraction into separate labels.

## Etymology

The term a-spec is short for a spectrum.

Tumblr user historicallyace speculates that the term "a-spec" may have been used to describe the asexual spectrum in late 2015 or early 2016.

## Community

### Identities under the umbrella

#### Asexual spectrum

Main article: Asexual spectrum
The **asexual spectrum**, abbreviated as **acespec**, 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.

#### Aromantic spectrum

Main article: Aromantic spectrum
The **aromantic spectrum**, abbreviated as **arospec**, refers to romantic orientations that are aromantic or are closely related to aromanticism when placed on a spectrum ranging from aromantic to alloromantic.

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. Identities under the aromantic umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.

#### Aromantic asexual

Main article: Aromantic asexual
**Aromantic asexual**, also known by the abbreviation **aroace**, means people who are both aromantic (aro) and asexual (ace) or on the aromantic spectrum (aro-spec) and the asexual spectrum (ace-spec).

As terms for specific identities, aromantic refers to someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction and asexual means someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction.Aromantic asexual people may or may not feel other forms of attraction that are neither romantic nor sexual. Some aromantic, asexual, or aromantic asexual people may also feel romantic or sexual attraction for others, but don't feel a need to act on their attraction. They may also only see this attraction as fantasy, which is why some don't feel a need to act on it.

## Flags

Tumblr user the-moon-is-aroace created the a-spec flag on March 25th, 2019. The compass rose in the middle symbolises 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 separate and independent identities, with the black and grey quadrants connecting them. Black represents the aroace community, and grey represents grey communities.

Tumblr users sapphic-squirrel and hetaces, with help from the Inclusionist Discord Server, designed the aloe vera a-spec flag, posted on November 17th, 2019. It was designed to mimic the sapphic, achillean, diamoric, and pluralian flags with three stripes and one plant. Green represents aromantic individuals, purple represents asexual individuals, and grey represents the area between "a-" and "allo-" identities.

## Controversy

There is some controversy around the term "a-spec" allegedly being appropriated from the autistic community.

The term is sometimes more broadly used to include other identities with the "a-" prefix, such as agender. However, there have also been discussions on how "a-spec" should only cover the asexual and aromantic spectrums.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 AUREA: "All Aromantic Terms". *AUREA - Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy*. (Archived on January 29, 2022).
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 lee (enbyhulk): "Do you, per chance, know when asexuals first started using the term 'aspec'?" (2017-06-06). *Aceing History*. (Archived on January 23, 2022).
3. ↑ Asexual Visibility and Education Network: "General FAQ". *Asexual Visibility and Education Network*. (Archived on January 8, 2022).
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project. *Ace and Aro Journeys: A Guide to Embracing Your Asexual or Aromantic Identity*. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2023. ISBN 9781839976384.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Victoria Barron. *Amazing Ace, Awesome Aro: An Illustrated Exploration*. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2023. ISBN 9781839977145.
6. ↑ Holleb, Morgan Lev Edward. *The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze*. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019. ISBN 9781784506636.
7. ↑ "Asexual, or ace (SO)". itgetsbetter.org. It Gets Better Project. (Archived on May 15, 2023).
8. ↑ "LGBTQ Definitions Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation" (2018-06-1). refinery29.com. Refinery29. (Archived on May 22, 2023).
9. ↑ the-moon-is-aroace: "A new flag for the aspec community". *If You Believe, We Put A Man on the Moon*. (Archived on January 27, 2022).
10. ↑ squirreltastic: "Hello Everyone! I want to present a community flag for the A-spec community!" (2019-11-17). *Sapphic Squirrel Shenanigans*. (Archived on January 24, 2022).
11. ↑ Apersnicketylemon: "Aspec does not and has never meant ‘Autism spectrum’." (2019-11-20). *The Lemon Void*. (Archived on January 24, 2022).
12. ↑ Hannah Moulton: "Somewhere on the A-Spectrum: Agender, aromantic and asexual people face misconceptions, aggression" (2015-10-08). utdailybeacon.com. Daily Beacon. (Archived on November 1, 2021).
13. ↑ seaburs: "The [A] stands for ... what?" (2015-02-12). abloggingseaburr.wordpress.com. (Archived on August 11, 2016).
14. ↑ Morgan Pasquier: "Explore the spectrum: Guide to finding your ace community" (2018-10-27). glaad.org. GLAAD. (Archived on March 24, 2022).
15. ↑ "What is the "a-spectrum"?". arocalypse.com. (Archived on January 21, 2022).