This is #15 of a series in which I read correspondence between me and people who have questions, comments, or--more often--misconceptions about asexuality. This one covers a question we sometimes get from a vocal minority in the queer community claiming asexual people absolutely do not have problems worth discussing because the very worst thing we ever experience is "hurt feelings" over people not acknowledging our orientation. Here are the citations and links for everything mentioned in the video. Siggy's Breakdown of asexual queerness (orientation and gender identity): http://skepticsplay.blogspot.com/2010/09/asexuality-is-queer.html My appearance at Creating Change (where I was invited to discuss asexuality at an LGBT conference): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3VnHa_dfCo My interview in the Gay Voices section of the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/asexual-discrimination_n_3380551.html The numbered list backups: 1. JOB AND HOUSING DENIAL: * The study documenting asexual discrimination: "Intergroup Bias toward 'Group X': Evidence of prejudice, dehumanization, avoidance, and discrimination against asexuals" http://gpi.sagepub.com/content/15/6/725 * An anecdotal account of possibly being fired for asexuality: http://thecupcakeace.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/was-i-fired-because-of-my-asexuality/ * A follow-up to this story by the same person: http://thecupcakeace.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/was-i-fired-because-of-my-asexuality-revisited/ 2. ADOPTION DENIAL: * Discussed in Olivier Cormier-Otaño's lecture, wherein he mentioned asexual couples getting denied adoption because "If you're asexual, you're not fit to be married." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-cI61oeOOE 3. CONSUMMATION LAWS: * These may change, but as of the creation of this video, the states requiring consummation for a marriage to be legal are here: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_states_require_consummation_for_marriage_to_be_a_legal * For laws regarding consummation as it refers to a couple that includes one immigrant, please see this document: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86920.pdf‎ 4. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW: * In New York, SONDA, the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, mentions asexuality as one of the sexual orientations that cannot be discriminated against legally. http://www.ag.ny.gov/civil-rights/sonda-brochure * In Vermont, asexuality is included in a "protected category" list under "sexual orientation": http://hrc.vermont.gov/sites/hrc/files/pdfs/harassment%2520docs/gender%2520sex%2520sexual%2520orientation%2520definitions.doc * The proposed legislation in Texas that names asexuality as a protected class is reported on in a news article here: http://news.yahoo.com/could-texas-city-proposed-ordinance-ban-traditional-marriage-185032584.html * The law paper by Elizabeth Emens, accepted by Standford Law Review, which thoroughly examines how asexual people live in a prejudicial environment and how that works out legally, is entitled "Compulsory Sexuality." http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2218783 5. "CORRECTIVE" RAPE: * Huffington Post discussed "corrective" rape and how it's hurting the asexual community here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/asexual-discrimination_n_3380551.html * Here is a Tumblr thread where another user and I discuss rape threats: http://swankivy.tumblr.com/post/50603184833/trigger-warning-mentions-of-rape-violence-assault * You can see some of the rape threats I have received here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncoHJo5128Q * And you can read about my experience with a man forcing himself on me after I told him I wasn't interested here: http://juliesondradecker.blogspot.jp/2013/06/comment-wars.html 6. POOR REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA: * Godiva's is a Canadian show that is canceled. It featured an asexual heteroromantic man, Martin. He was "fixed" with testosterone supplements. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godiva%27s * Huge is an American show that is canceled. It had an asexual aromantic woman, Poppy, in a minor role. She mentioned her asexuality once during a discussion with a fellow camp counselor and it was never mentioned again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huge_%28TV_series%29 * Shortland Street is a New Zealand show that is still going on as of this writing. It featured an asexual biromantic man, Gerald. His asexuality is examined deeply throughout the series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortland_street Episodes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgju7QrWszA The bad House episode is called "Better Half": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Half_%28House%29 7. MISDIAGNOSIS WITH A MENTAL DISORDER: * DSM definition of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: http://www.behavenet.com/node/21614 8. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE: * The Trevor Project: http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ * Materials created by AAW for the Trevor Project's volunteers: http://asexualawarenessweek.com/trevor/AceInfo-TrevorProject.pdf

• published: 27 Sep 2013
• views: 451