I'm going to sound radical when I say this, but out of all sexualities aro/aces are the only ones* going through that OG queer experience. And I bet most aroaces agree with me, but we just don't say it out loud.
(Edit: I admit this was a very 3rd world country thing to say about sexual minorites that I wrote in frustration)
We are still legally classified as a mental disorder or psychosexual dysfunction in most countries. Aroace people have fought hard, partially successfully, to have asexuality removed from the DSM-V in 2013.
My sexuality, aegosexuality/autochorisexuality, was literally named and defined by a doctor who wrote about it and asexuality as a paraphilia, in 2012.
Aro/aces are at high risk of experiencing conversion therapy. We're 10% more likely to be offered or undergo such therapies compared to other sexual minorities, and around 48% aromatics reported having experienced attempts or suggestions to "fix" or "cure" them. This includes being pressured or even forced to take medication.
Aromatics are especially discriminated in mental healthcare because of all the above.
In some places non-consummation is a ground to annul marriage and/or is ruled as cruelty. Basically, if you don't have sex with your partner, in the eyes of law, you are being cruel to your husband/wife and you're at fault for the divorce.
Asexuals are significantly more sexually assaulted than homosexuals (but not bisexual).
Aro/aces are not protected by most anti-discrimination laws, because asexuality is seen as lack of sexuality and not a sexual orientation. Same goes for romantic attraction.
Aro/aces have secret codes/signals for showing other aro/aces their identity without needing to come out to others. We wear white and black rings on specific finger and hand, just like gays did with handkerchiefs and lesbians with carabiners.
There's almost no media that doesn't dehumanise people who don't feel romantic or sexual attraction. Those that do exist were made by aro/ace people.
Surveys show most allos don't understand what asexually is, even when they are confident in their definition. This leads to almost all of asexuals being told they aren't actually ace because of xyz by allos.
Now, I'm not trying to make it into Oppression Olympics but I believe it's important to acknowledge how strongly discriminated aro/aces are when most people claim we aren't oppressed at all. I've heard so many times how aro/aces have "straight privileges" but what kind of privilege is it if we have to pretend to be straight and never come out to fucking have it? We deserves legal recognition, we deserve protection, we deserve acceptance, and we deserve to be seen.
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