What Does It Mean To Be Graysexual?
Graysexuality is a sexual orientation which refers to individuals who experience romantic attraction or desire towards persons of any gender identity or expression, but are not exclusively attracted to men or women. Individuals with this orientation may identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, panromantic (or even a combination thereof), queer (a term used to refer to those whose sexuality does not fall into either heterosexual nor homosexual categories) and/or fluid.
The word “gray” comes from the Latin words gregere meaning white and silm meaning shade. It describes someone who is neither entirely male nor female, but rather somewhere between these two states. Some people with this orientation prefer to use the term demisexual instead of graysexual because it implies they do not have a strong preference for one gender over another, while others prefer to avoid using the term “grey” since it might imply some sort of mental illness or other negative connotation.
There are many different types of graysexuals. There are those who only experience romantic attraction towards people of their own gender, there are those who feel no particular feelings for anyone at all, and then there are those who experience varying degrees of romantic attraction to both genders. A person’s level of attraction will vary depending on several factors such as: age, personality type, relationship status, culture and religion, etc.
Everything You Need To Know About Graysexuals
What is graysexuality?
Graysexuality, sometimes referred to as demisexuality, refers to a person who does not experience strong sexual attraction towards either gender. Typically, a graysexual person will only feel sexual attraction after they have formed a strong emotional bond with someone. Graysexuals may also identify as asexual, meaning they experience little to no desire for any sexual activity.
Is graysexuality a sexual orientation?
Many people believe graysexuality is a type of sexual orientation, a term used to describe a person’s enduring physical, romantic, emotional, and/or social attraction to another person. While there are some graysexuals who identify as being part of the LGBT community, others do not.
Is graysexuality the same as asexuality?
Graysexuality and asexuality are not the same thing. While asexual people do not experience sexual attraction, graysexual people may experience it infrequently or only under specific circumstances. Graysexual people can still engage in sexual activity if they want to. They may simply not want to engage in it for their own personal reasons.
How many people identify as graysexual?
Due to the relatively recent creation of the term “graysexual,” there is no accurate statistic of how many people identify as such. However, it is known that there are numerous celebrities who have identified themselves as graysexual, these include: Jennifer Lawrence, Matt Damon, Miley Cyrus, and Johnny Depp.
What is the opposite of graysexuality?
The opposite of graysexuality is known as sexual or hypersexual. A sexual person experiences strong sexual attraction towards both genders. A hypersexual person experiences extreme levels of sexual desire and will often engage in indiscriminate sexual activity.
Gray-A, Gray-Asexual, or Gray-Ace
Some graysexual people consider themselves to be on the asexual spectrum, known as being “gray-asexual” or “gray-ace.” Gray-ace people identify as being somewhere in between asexual and non-asexual. Just like with graysexuality, there are varying degrees of gray-asexuality. Not all gray-ace people identify with the term “gray,” some simply identify as straight, gay, or lesbian.
How Do I Know If I’m Graysexual?
There are many signs that can indicate if a person is graysexual. These include:
Performing sexual acts under specific circumstances
A desire to engage in sexual activity
Experiencing sexual attraction to specific people or genders
Desire to engage in sexual activity at a later time
While these signs do not necessarily mean a person is graysexual, they could indicate that they are. If you believe you experience sexual attraction then it’s best to discuss it with a medical professional or a close friend. If you determine that you are graysexual, then there’s no need to panic or worry excessively. It is a perfectly normal variation of human sexuality.
How Can I Tell My Friends and Family That I’m Graysexual?
Telling your friends and family that you’re graysexual is a very personal decision. If and when you decide to tell them, it’s important to do so in an open and honest manner. Let them know you love them and respect them, then tell them how you feel. It may take some time for them to process the information, so be patient with them.
Some people may have a harder time accepting your sexuality than others. Your family may not agree with or understand your choice, but that doesn’t mean they won’t love you. If a friend drops your friendship or makes fun of you, you need to decide if their opinion is worth keeping in your life. Remember that you don’t need to hide who you are from anyone, and you certainly don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself.
I’m Graysexual, Now What?
Now that you’ve accepted your graysexuality, it’s time to go out into the world and embrace it! If you’re in a relationship, tell your significant other that you are graysexual. They will likely appreciate the honesty. If you don’t have a significant other, feel free to explore your options. There are many people out there who are looking for graysexual partners so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one.
Whatever you do from here though, remember to be safe and to not judge others based on gender, orientation, or anything else. Everyone is different and everyone deserves to be loved.
Sources & references used in this article:
Performing graysexuality by J Coombs Fine – Journal of Language and Sexuality, 2019 – ingentaconnect.com
“Sex” and the Ace Spectrum: Definitions of Sex, Behavioral Histories, and Future Interest for Individuals Who Identify as Asexual, Graysexual, or Demisexual by JJ Hille, MK Simmons, SA Sanders – The Journal of Sex Research, 2020 – Taylor & Francis
Performing graysexuality: A segmental and prosodic analysis of three voices employed in the construction of the graysexual self by JC Fine – Journal of Language and Sexuality, 2019 – jbe-platform.com
Asexuality as a spectrum: A national probability sample comparison to the sexual community in the UK by CH McClave – 2013 – academiccommons.columbia.edu
The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality* Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in LGBT by JS Decker – 2015 – books.google.com
