We raise awareness, organize events, & compile resources for people across the aromantic spectrum. | We're happy to take questions that are not in the FAQ (#faq for mobile users). We can't tell you if you're aro. | Other information/resources are available in the sidebar at https://aromantic.lgbt/
Hello, everyone! You may have noticed that this blog has been mostly inactive over the last several months. Our schedules and personal lives have not allowed us to dedicate as much time as we used to. Going forward, we are changing some things about how we run this blog:
1. Anonymous asks have been disabled. You can still send us asks, and if you donโt want it to be public, we are more than willing to answer them privately. However, the sheer volume of asks that we were getting before very quickly became overwhelming, and given that we never intended to market ourselves as an advice blog, was not sustainable nor healthy for us in the long run.
2. We will no longer be publishing our own original content and events. This means that for things like ASAW and pride month, we will no longer be posting prompts or challenges. Thankfully, with the growth of the aro community online over the last few years, this is no longer a niche we need to fill! Instead, we will be boosting other folksโ events and projects to help spread the word.
3. The queue will not be filled on a regular schedule, so you can expect far fewer posts from us and much longer breaks between posts.
4. We are simplifying our tagging system to make organization easier. The tag list found on the desktop site is no longer up to date, but we will still be tagging for content warnings, for example.
Nevertheless, we hope that this blog can still be a helpful resource and sounding board for many people! Our goal moving forward is to support the efforts of other folks in the community, and to promote events and information so that more people have access to it. While this blog will be mostly inactive, youโre welcome to find any of the mods on our personal blogs. Within the coming weeks, you can expect to see some information about ASAW events and projects. We are also clearing out our drafts, so for a while there will be some old posts and asks.
This anniversary is not only ours, it is YOURS too. Because YOU are what makes this blog and this community possible!
To celebrate, take a trip with us down memory lane and check out our anniversary zine, filled with messages from other members of this community:
โ Download the zine (pdf).
If you want to print a copy of the zine, download this file and print on both sides of a page before folding into a booklet.
We're also very happy to debut our new logo!
Isn't it amazing? Keep an eye out for the new Aro Movies Monday and Aro Tunes Thursday redesigns as well. This new visual identity was commissioned to @marirumo, a designer we've already collaborated with on previous projects; we're very grateful for her constant support!
And last but not least, thank you so much for these past ten years. Here is to many more to come! Happy anniversary!
@aggressivelyarospec turns 10 years old in 2026, and we want to hear from you!
Next year (2026) marks the tenth anniversary of our blog, a space that was born with the idea of โโpromoting the voices on the aro spectrum. This project has become what it is today thanks to each and every one of you.
We want to celebrate by hearing about your experiences with us over the years, and to do that, we need your help filling out the form below:
Help us celebrate our 10th anniversary with a recap of what we've achieved during this time by answering, in a variety of ways, the question
But that's not all! Some of the submissions we collect will be published in an online zine that we'll share with you all during our anniversary on May 22, 2026.
You have until April 30, 2026 to send your answers, so join us in celebrating a decade with you and this fantastic community!
You'll find some extra details you might want to know about this under the cut, as well as a summary of the questions you'll see in the form to prepare yourselves before replying:
The form will NOT collect your email, so you can participate even if you don't have a Google account.
You'll have to give your consent to be featured in the zine, but even if you don't want to be in it, we'd love to hear from you, so don't let that stop you!
We'll only consider the replies we get through the form, so please, refrain from answering in a reblog or individual post here (Tumblr).
Take as much time as you need to answer each question. We suggest you have your answers ready before clicking on the form so then you can just copy/paste in there and make it easier on yourself.
Don't hesitate to send us your questions if anything is unclear. We'll gladly help in any way we can to make this a pleasant experience for everyone.
*Bonus: Remember! You have until April 30, 2026 to send your answers!
QUESTIONS IN THE FORM
General
Who were you 10 years ago?
When and how did you discover AA?
How has your life changed since then?
Events
AAW and AAS
What was the first year you participated? (for each)
What work are you most proud of? (for each, share the link)
ATT and AMM
What song (that you discovered thanks to ATT) has meant the most to you as an arospec?
What movie, series, etc. (that you discovered thanks to AMM) has meant the most to you as an arospec?
Closing
Sign our yearbook: Write a short message for us. Write as if you were "taking a trip down memory lane" with a longtime friend.
If selected, do you consent to be featured in the zine? (If yes, write the name you'd like to be listed with).
Yesterday we talked about frustrations, today we want everyone who wants to share what they love! Anything you enjoy with little to no romance in it? Something focusing on other relationships? Your own work?
Feel free to share any type of media you prefer, be it fanart, fanfics, books, series, etc. And if you are a creator, you can share your own works too! Of course, we ask you that the works shared are non-romantic or not focused on romance.
Please click the link to complete this form.
We will keep this up indefinitely, so you can all keep adding and checking recommendations even after this week ends! This is a space made for and by the community!
And if you want to go straight to the table with recommendations, go to the following link, but please remember that this can only be filled with your support!
It is Aromantic Awareness Week! ๐๐ค๐ฉถ๐ค With the passing of Valentine's Day and Family Day right around the corner, we remind ourselves that aros deserve to be treated as equals, and we live in a society.
[Image descriptions are included in the alt text for each image!]
Links to resources and sources below the cut
RESOURCESโ๏ธ
Arocalypse forums site
Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
Aromantic Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education & Advocacy (AUREA)
Happy ASAW! Each day this week, we will be sharing a different identity/microlabel on the aromantic spectrum.
#2. AEGOROMANTIC / AUTOCHORISROMANTIC
Aegoromantic describes a person who enjoys the idea of romance, but does not wish to be a participant in romantic activities. People who identify as aegoromantic might enjoy romantic stories, movies, or have romantic fantasies. However, they prefer to remain observers rather than participants in romantic interactions.
Flag created by Pride Flags - https://buff.ly/SvLALWp
[The image displays a flag with horizontal stripes of green, white, and gray, intersected by black triangles forming an inverted chevron in the center. ]
The Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education and Advocacy is trying to raise $500 for our general website and organizational costs by February 28th. Small amounts add up quick!
When we're halfway to our goal, we'll share an advance excerpt from our upcoming book, "The Other A in LGBTQIA+: An Introduction to the Aromantic Community, in Our Own Words!" (official release will be this May) - If we reach 100% our goal, we'll share a second excerpt from the book.
Help us to reach our goal here: https://buff.ly/Z8IusSh
We'd like to celebrate the diversity of aromantic orientations, from no romantic attraction to nonnormative romantic attraction or experiences with romance, by sharing a different microlabel each day this week. Do you use microlabels? Which do you think we should feature this week?
1. GREYROMANITC (grey aromantic) ~
"Greyromantic" describes a person who feels romantic attraction very rarely, weakly, unreliably, or gains/loses attraction in unusual or unknown circumstances.
It can also be used as an umbrella term for orientations on the aromantic spectrum, except for aromantics who donโt experience romantic attraction at all.
Find out about all the fun events being hosted this Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week in this special ASAW edition of What's Going On!
Are you hosting an aromantic event of your own? Tell us about it! Fill out the form here and you may be featured in a future WGO: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeORDD3N53jajLXMp0IRd_xO8A0mfQBVMjsbWgfygZWZ2sRYg/viewform?usp=header
[Image description: In focus, an aromantic flag being waved in the air. Out of focus behind the flag, buildings, traffic lights, and other pride flags. The link reads "AUREA - What's Going On: February 2026 (ASAW Edition). Written by Oscar. Word count 657"]
Happy Aro-Spec Awareness Week! To all the aromantic spectrum people out there, you are seen, valid, and AWESOME!! For events, view the ASAW website here: https://www.arospecweek.org/get-involved/events/
[image description: The aromantic flag on a green background with two black stripes on the left and right sides, with the text โHappy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2026โ with the AVEN logo below the text.
Aro-Spec is in the colour black and the other text is in the colour white.]
This week (February 15th โ 21st, 2026), is an annual, international event meant to spread awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities, as well as celebrate our own experiences and existence!
Below the cut, I have created a list of all the flags/identities featured in this artwork, as well as some very informative resources about aromanticism and the arospec identities!
Individuals who are aromantic or aro-spec and also allosexual. They experience sexual attraction but do not experience romantic attraction (or experience limited romantic attraction).
Hey, that's me!!! ๐๐ค๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Someone who does not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep emotional connection with someone.
๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Those who relate with aromanticism, yet feel that there are parts of their experience that aren't fully described by the word aromantic.
Those who experience romantic attraction with a lesser frequency or with a lesser intensity than would be considered average for an alloromantic person.
๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
When someone only experiences romantic attraction towards those that they are not deeply connected with, and lose that attraction as they get to know the individuals.
Not knowing one's romantic orientation or not wanting to define one's romantic orientation.
Not being romantically categorizable, being unable to tell the difference between differing kinds of attraction, being unsure about experiencing romantic attraction or not, and/or not feeling the concept of "romantic attraction" to be relevant to oneself.
Someone who does not experience romantic attraction unless they know that the other individual is romantically attracted to them first.
๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Those who enjoy the concept of romance, and may experience โromantic feelingsโ, but have a disconnection between themself and the subject of romantic fantasies.
Those who enjoy the concept of romance but do not have a desire to participate in romantic activities.
A person who does not feel any romantic attraction and is repulsed or disgusted by it.
Some may be repulsed at the idea of engaging in romance themselves, but are fine with romance that does not involve them. Others may be repulsed by the idea of romance in general.
Someone who has an interest in, is okay with or enjoys traditionally romantic things, such as kissing or cuddling, but does not want a romantic relationship.
People who are uncomfortable with, repulsed by, or otherwise do not want a committed relationship, but are okay with or interested in some behaviors traditionally associated with romantic attraction.
๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐
Someone whose romantic orientation fluctuates.
People who experience their romantic orientation as fluctuating between experiencing and not experiencing romantic attraction, or that attraction is being experienced to alternating or changing degrees.
A person who does not experience full-on romantic attraction, but experiences โlikingโ someone instead of โlovingโ them romantically, at which point the attraction ends.
Please keep in mind that this list only includes the flags shown in my artwork, and is not a fully comprehensive list of all arospec identities. The aromantic spectrum is infinite, and even if your label is not shown here, that does not make it any less valid! ๐๐ค๐ฉถ๐ค
AUREA is an incredible website with tons of information about aromanticism, including a very detailed/comprehensive list of many aromantic orientations and other related terms!
AUREA (Aromantic-spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy) assembles general information and community updates on aromanticis
Aro Worlds is a particularly great resource for Aroallos!
Aromantic Narratives and Creativity
A website that helps organize events/resources for Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, with some great information about aromanticism!
r/aromantic on Reddit is a great place to connect with other aromantic/arospec individuals!
If you have made it to the end of this post, thank you! This took quite a bit of time to put together, and although the artwork itself is a little rushed (I somehow busted this out in three days LMAO) I am very pleased with the end result and I hope you will like it too!
For those who identify as aromantic and/or fall somewhere on the spectrum, you are seen, you are valid, and you are perfect just the way you are. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise!
And for those who are not aromantic/arospec, but still take the time to educate themselves on aromanticism, thank you for acknowledging our validity and existence! You have no idea how important that is, and how much it means to us. ๐ซถ
For this aromantic spectrum awareness week, we don't only want to share our inputs, but also ask for yours! Is there anything you would like the people you love to know about how it is to be aromantic? Anything you'd like to tell society about their views?
Beyond media, we are real people with real wants and needs, and so by the end of this week we'd like to share all of your thoughts into a single message board.
this aromantic spectrum awareness week, I am celebrating every aro.
so this one goes out to the aroaces, the alloaros, the arospecs, the aros who don't use the SAM and those whose identities are too complicated to describe neatly.
this is for the aros who have never been in relationships, and those who have. the ones who feel romance repulsed and the ones who are neutral or favorable.
this is for aros who have queerplatonic partners or would like them. for the aros who never want a partner in any form.
for the trans aros, the neurodivergent aros, the disabled aros, the aros of color. for the aros who have other identities that affect their experience with aromanticism.
for the aros who are still figuring things out. for the aros who are questioning or who used to identify as something else. for the aros who are insecure in their identity. for the aros who sometimes feel isolated or misunderstood because they're aro. for the aros seeking community.
for any aros who aren't already on this list, because our community is so varied and full of so many people who are all over the spectrum of human experience.
this is for every aro. you are all real and valid, and you all belong. this is a week to celebrate you. and I can only hope that you feel celebrated every other 51 weeks of the year, because aromanticism is beautiful and is something worth celebrating, always.
may you be happy. may you be fulfilled. may you find others like you. may you make it through the hard times to find a better world on the other side.
Was doing research for an Aromantic Awareness Month post, and I compiled some info on Aromantic History. Thought I should post it here too
13th century - Beguinage: to house religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world
Qing dynasty (17th century) - The Golden Orchid Society: included women who married other women and women who did not wish to marry, have romantic, or sexual partnership
Late 19th century - early 20th century - Boston marriages: the cohabitation of two women who were independent of financial support from a man. Some of these relationships were romantic in nature; others were not
1979 - Dorothy Tennov spoke of โnon-limerantโ people in her book Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love, and recognized that romantic and sexual love were not necessarily linked
2002 - Possibly the first use of the word โaromanticโ on Haven for the Human Amoeba
2005 - Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage by Stephanie Coontz discussed that historically marriage wasnโt originally about a relationship between a man and a woman, but about making ideal relationships such as having desirable in-laws, strong alliances, and increasing that family labor force.
2006 - the word "aromantic" used on the AVEN forums
2010 - The term "queerplatonic" was coined by S. E. Smith and Kaz
2011 - National Coalition for Aromantic Visibility founded
2011 - First flag proposal
2012 - Professor Elizabeth Brake defined amatonormativity as "the widespread assumption that everyone is better off in an exclusive, romantic, long-term coupled relationship, and that everyone is seeking such a relationship" in her book Minimizing Marriage
2014 - Aromantic Awareness Week suggested (later becomes Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week)
2014 - Second and third (current) flag proposal
2016 - Arocalypse created
2017 - Aromantics Wiki created
2018 - โAromanticโ added to the Oxford English Dictionary
2019 - Aromantic-Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy created
2021 - Aromantic Awareness Month first observed
2023 - Aromantic Awareness Day and Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Day first observed
Collected the info from: Wikipedia, AUREA, sennkestra on Arocalypse
Introducing "No Romo" Fest: a creative celebration of aromanticism ๐
Let's celebrate Valentine's Day with our own definition of love (or a lack thereof)! No Romo Fest is a creative event taking place from February 8th to 14th, open to anyone and everyone who would like to center aromanticism in their work.
Works can be posted under the #no romo fest tag and/or in the AO3 collection throughout the week.
Guidelines & (optional) prompts below the cut:
Guidelines
Works must feature aromanticism in some way.
All fanworks & original works, all mediums are welcome. (RPF is also fine as long as the subject is a public figure โค๏ธ)
Prompts are optional and up to interpretation.
Works must be your own; plagiarism and AI-generated works are forbidden.
There are no content restrictions, but please include relevant content warnings on your work.
Cross-posting to other events is okay as long as the other event allows it.
Lastly, do not police other creatorsโ interpretations of aromanticism; it is a broad identity that can mean many different things to different people.
Prompts
aroace / aroallo
partnering / non-partnering
friendship / family
self discovery / coming out
non-monogamy / relationship anarchy
lovequeer / loveless
pride flag / green & white
Discussion Prompts
(Although the event is open to all, these are meant for arospec individuals specifically!)
What does aromanticism mean to you?
How did you discover your arospec identity?
Do you identify with any more specific labels, or "just aro"?
