Abrosexuality 101: Understanding Fluid Sexuality and Changing Attraction

Have you ever felt your sexuality shift and evolve, moving beyond traditional labels? You might be exploring abrosexuality, a sexual orientation characterized by its fluidity and dynamic nature. This in-depth guide dives into the world of abrosexuality, aiming to clarify this identity, highlight the experiences of abrosexual individuals, and provide a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating aspect of human sexuality.

Key Takeaways:

• Abrosexuality is fluid: It’s a sexual orientation where attraction changes over time, sometimes rapidly.
• Part of the multisexual spectrum: Abrosexuality falls under the umbrella of being attracted to more than one gender.
• Distinct from other orientations: It’s different from pansexuality, asexuality, and bisexuality, though it can share similarities at times.
• Unique challenges and experiences: Abrosexual individuals navigate specific issues related to identity, relationships, and visibility.
• Growing understanding and community: Awareness and acceptance of abrosexuality are increasing, fostering a more inclusive LGBTQ+ community.

Defining Abrosexuality: A Spectrum of Shifting Attraction

Abrosexuality is defined by its fluidity. Unlike sexual orientations that are generally considered stable, abrosexuality is characterized by change. An abrosexual person’s sexuality is not fixed; it can shift and fluctuate over time. This change can occur frequently – over hours, days, months, or years – and can involve shifts in:

• Types of attraction: Attraction may shift between different sexual orientations, such as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual.
• Intensity of attraction: The strength of sexual attraction can vary, from intense to weak, or even absent at times (aligning with aceflux experiences).
• Gender(s) of attraction: The genders a person is attracted to may change, encompassing different combinations across the gender spectrum.

Origins of the Term:

The term “abrosexual” derives from the Greek word “abros,” meaning “graceful” or “delicate,” suggesting the flowing and changing nature of this sexuality. It emerged online in the early 2010s, gaining traction within LGBTQ+ online communities as a way to describe this specific experience of fluid sexuality.

Abrosexuality Visibility:

• Abrosexual Visibility Day: April 3rd
• Abrosexual Pride Day: July 2nd
• Symbol: A symbol representing change and movement, often used within the community.
• Flag: A five-striped flag with colors ranging from dark green to dark pink, visually representing the spectrum of change in abrosexuality.

Abrosexuality Within Multisexuality and the LGBTQ+ Spectrum

Abrosexuality is considered part of the broader multisexual spectrum, which includes orientations where individuals are attracted to more than one gender. Other multisexual identities include bisexuality, pansexuality, and polysexuality.

Distinguishing Abrosexuality:

What sets abrosexuality apart is its fluidity over time. While other multisexual orientations describe attraction to multiple genders simultaneously or consistently, abrosexuality describes a sexuality that itself is subject to change.

Relationship to Aceflux and Aroflux:

Abrosexuality is often linked to aceflux (fluidity in asexual and sexual attraction) and aroflux (fluidity in romantic attraction). An abrosexual person may also experience shifts in their romantic orientation (aro-spec) and/or the intensity of their sexual attraction (ace-spec), though these are separate but often related aspects of their identity.

Abrosexuality vs. Other Sexual Orientations: Key Differences

Understanding abrosexuality requires distinguishing it from other sexual orientations with which it is sometimes confused:

Abrosexuality vs. Pansexuality

Key Difference: Pansexuality is a stable orientation characterized by attraction to all genders simultaneously. Abrosexuality is defined by its changeability – an abrosexual person’s attraction can shift to different genders or none at all over time. An abrosexual person might at times identify with pansexuality, but this would be one phase within their fluid abrosexual experience.

Abrosexuality vs. Asexuality

Key Difference: Asexuality is characterized by a lack of sexual attraction. Abrosexuality, while it can include periods of asexuality (aceflux), is defined by the potential for sexual attraction to be present, even if it fluctuates or disappears at times. An abrosexual person’s experience is marked by the shifting nature of their attraction, whereas asexuality is defined by its consistent absence.

Abrosexuality vs. Bisexuality and Sexual Fluidity

While both bisexuality and general sexual fluidity involve attraction to more than one gender, abrosexuality is distinct due to the radical and unpredictable nature of its shifts. Bisexuality is generally understood as attraction to more than one gender, often with a degree of stability in that attraction. Sexual fluidity is a broader term describing variability in sexuality over time, but it doesn’t necessarily imply the distinct and sometimes complete shifts in orientation that define abrosexuality.

Navigating the Abrosexual Spectrum: Experiences and Challenges

The abrosexual experience is diverse and personal, but some common themes and challenges emerge:

Fluidity and Change:

• Unpredictable Shifts: The changing nature of attraction can be unpredictable, causing confusion or a sense of being “always in flux.”
• Spectrum of Attraction: Abrosexual individuals may experience shifts across the entire spectrum of sexual orientations, including periods of feeling heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or other orientations.
• Romantic Fluidity: This fluidity often extends to romantic attraction (aro-spec), creating a complex interplay of sexual and romantic orientation.

Relationships and Identity:

• Relationship Challenges: Maintaining long-term relationships can be challenging due to shifting attractions. Open communication and flexible relationship structures (“waverships”) can be important.
• “Coming Out” Fatigue: Abrosexual individuals may feel they are constantly “coming out” as their identity shifts or as they enter new relationships.
• Internal Validation: Due to the lack of widespread understanding, abrosexual individuals may face internal doubts about the validity of their identity and feelings.
• Visibility and Misunderstanding: Abrosexuality is less visible than other LGBTQ+ identities, leading to misunderstanding, erasure, and questioning from both within and outside the LGBTQ+ community.

Support and Community:

Despite these challenges, the abrosexual community is growing, particularly online. Visibility days and pride days help raise awareness. Online communities provide spaces for abrosexual individuals to connect, share experiences, and find validation and support.

Supporting Abrosexual Individuals: Allyship and Understanding

Being an ally to abrosexual individuals involves:

• Respect and Open-mindedness: Believe and validate their experiences. Do not question the validity of their fluid sexuality.
• Respecting Privacy: Avoid asking intrusive questions or sharing their identity without permission.
• Education and Awareness: Learn about abrosexuality and help educate others to increase understanding and acceptance.
• Inclusion: Advocate for the inclusion of abrosexuality in LGBTQ+ spaces and resources.
• Support and Resources: Connect abrosexual individuals with LGBTQ+ organizations and support networks, both online and offline.
• Open Communication in Relationships: If you are in a relationship with an abrosexual person, prioritize open, honest communication, flexibility, and understanding regarding their shifting attractions and needs.

Professional Support:

Mental health professionals are increasingly aware of abrosexuality and LGBTQ+ issues. Seeking therapy or counseling from LGBTQ+-affirming therapists can be beneficial for abrosexual individuals navigating their identity and relationships.

Conclusion: Embracing Fluidity and Expanding Understanding

Abrosexuality is a valid and real sexual orientation characterized by its dynamic and changing nature. It expands our understanding of human sexuality beyond fixed categories and highlights the spectrum of human experience. While abrosexual individuals face unique challenges, increased visibility, understanding, and allyship are crucial for creating a more inclusive and supportive world where all sexual identities are recognized and respected. Embracing the concept of fluid sexuality allows for a richer and more nuanced understanding of human attraction and identity.

Resources:

• GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
• The Trevor Project
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals