ponz Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I was reading news articles online yesterday and came across one regarding sex in relationships. I read it to see if there was any mention (good or bad) of asexuality. There was not. >_< There was, however, a link to the author's sex therapy website. I took a peek, again to see if asexuality was mentioned, and quickly found this article... http://www.goodinbed.com/blogs/sex_doctors/2013/01/gsd-not-just-another-queer-alphabet-soup/ Yay! We were included! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaHoward Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Huzzah! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 More than the small word "asexual" in the article, I find the article in itself interesting. GSD instead of LGBT+ would save SO many letters and prevent the community from further adding more of them to the alphabet soup. I voted in the poll and almost half the voters seem to agree with the acronym change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingArt Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Yeah I'm really excited about that! Can we all just please start calling it GSD for now on? That would be super cool and inclusive. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calostemma Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 No way am I associating with all those other queers We are the normal they are not ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarndyce Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Leaving the above post aside for obvious reasons, I have never understood the desire to be associated with the LGBT community, given that they fought for the right to be sexual in their way, where as our very existence involves the fact that we don't really care about sex. There could hardly be a group more antithetical to our (lack of) interest than a group based around sexuality. I suppose that in saying this, I would prefer to present asexuality positively, by letting people know we exist, than to present it negatively, claiming existence primarily in contrast to the heterosexual societal norm. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponz Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 I think it's important to be a part of the LGBT community because they're an established group and will increase our chances of being taken seriously. They've been fighting for acknowledgement and acceptance a lot longer than us and have valuable experience. "Gay people have really had it the hardest of all. From verbal abuse to being killed, they've been put under so much fire for expressing their sexuality. They've suffered a lot, they've paved the way," (McClemont) said. And this quote... "We stand on the shoulders of giants who've come before us," (Brooks) said. Those 2 quotes are from the LGTB inclusion part of the Huffington Post article. They really struck a chord with me. I think that section as a whole makes some important points about LGTB inclusion. I'd post the link, but I'm on my iPod so it would be the mobile link. I can't switch to full version because it makes my browser crash. >_< I do agree with asexuals being somewhat separate, though. We have our own community here, our own flag and our own visibility week, so I think we're pretty independent. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
praetorius Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Well, we're working to be sexual in our own way, too --- that's the shared point of contact with the larger LGBT community. Based on the experiences shared on this forum, a lot of asexuals are faced with exactly the same type of rejection, discrimination, and isolation experienced by people at other non-heteronormal positions in the spectrum of human sexuality. Parents who expect them to get married and start popping out children with an appropriate opposite-sex partner. Friends who cannot understand their (a)sexual attractions, or even refuse to believe they exist. Being told they are broken, even by medical professionals; that they can never live complete and fulfilling lives. Thus, we share in the goals of the LGBT community of creating a society that is more aware and accepting of the full diversity and individuality of human sexuality. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShockTrance Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Switching from LGBT+ to GSD is a great idea, IMHO. I for one will start using GSD henceforth. I also think that we should associate with the rest of the GSD community because we have common experiences and common goals. We've all experienced a lack of acceptance and some form of discrimination due to us being seen as "abnormal" or "unnatural"; while some groups have endured more difficulties than others, the fact stands that we are all looking to make society both aware and accepting of the non-heteronormative, non-binary orientations and to ensure that we are treated exactly the same (legally, politically, and socially, at least) as heteroromantic heterosexual cis-genders. We shouldn't isolate ourselves because they're sexual and we aren't. Instead, we should work together to make life better for all of us, asexual or otherwise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vyanni Krace Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I really like that idea! GSD sounds better than LGBT, its easier to say, and its more inclusive without becoming too large a collection of letters. Its brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingArt Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I suppose that in saying this, I would prefer to present asexuality positively, by letting people know we exist, than to present it negatively, claiming existence primarily in contrast to the heterosexual societal norm. I have kind of a problem with this way of looking at it, though. I do not feel like an enemy of hetero normative people in the least, and I've been in the, I suppose, GSD cause since before I even found my asexuality. Although some people may see GSD as "negative", and portrayed negatively, I absolutely cannot see GSD as negatively at all! To say "I don't want to be associated with gay people because gay has a bad rep and I want to be seen in a more positive light by those who put homosexuals in that sort of light" is hurtful both to GSD people and to ourselves, and I think it also encourages the idea that GSD people really are the "different ones". And they're not. Not really. Not by much. I think we're the different people, but that's why we need to stick together with others who are also willing to fight for people to understand and accept. I cannot honestly answer the question of "who has it worse, homosexual and bisexual people, or us, asexual people?", but I do know what it's like to be in a same-sex relationship because I'm in one. And, I still manage to feel more out of place for being asexual than in a same-sex relationship. And for this reason, and for some of the similar things we go through, and for actually needing support of people who understand, at least a little, and for needing to educate the world, I believe we do need GSD. Of course this is my own opinion. I don't feel like piggy backing GSD people at all, but I do want to be be on the same "team" as it were, and fight for the same causes, while still maintaining our levels of independence that we have here. I hope I made sense here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 We shouldn't isolate ourselves because they're sexual and we aren't. Instead, we should work together to make life better for all of us, asexual or otherwise. Exactly this. In addition, let us not forget that many asexuals (namely all those who aren't cisgender and heteroromantic) are technically a part of the LGBT/GSD community as well. We share a lot of the same issues, a lot of the same life stories and all. I think the term GSD would be a much welcome change and it would benefit everyone: less letters to type down, and a single, all-inclusive concept for everyone. Mind you, that doesn't imply that the asexual community will automatically become a part of the GSD community. We can still have our own place - nobody's threatening us to take it away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponz Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 I googled "GSD gender" (since GSD has other meanings) and found this article. The comments are troubling... I haven't really registered an articulate opinion other than that, yet. http://www.queerty.com/therapists-argue-to-replace-lgbt-with-more-inclusive-gsd-20130223/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingArt Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I googled "GSD gender" (since GSD has other meanings) and found this article. The comments are troubling... I haven't really registered an articulate opinion other than that, yet. http://www.queerty.com/therapists-argue-to-replace-lgbt-with-more-inclusive-gsd-20130223/ Wow, I just was reading all of those comments and that was incredibly disheartening. "I don't understand it so I don't want to iclude it." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xserpx Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I much prefer GSD too. But in a way, I kind of like how the LGBTQQIP2SAA acronym is getting longer and longer, because I feel the more letters it gets the more it shows just how wide and varied human sexuality is. Condensing it down, whilst it makes it easier to type and it is more inclusive, doesn't really portray the sheer number of different experiences aside from heterosexuality and cisgenders, and that humans really do experience all these different things with regards to their gender, orientation and preferences. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin L Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I thought the term "queer" is already reclaimed to mean the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calostemma Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I give up on misuse of the english language Gets really hard to have a conversation with every one having different terms for the so called unmentuiiables, Including us Lov your avatar asexy Can't get my picture to stick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calostemma Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Queer meaning everyone who is not asexual ^_^ We are the greatest/ we are terrific we are the nicest people in the world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calostemma Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 I notice on this board there is a tendancy to put he or she or something why ask. Guys and gals You do not have to apologise for being asexual neither do you have to allign yourself with any other group that claims persecution. We are born into a male or female body We are not slaves to our sexual urges as they are We can see people as people not as potential penis's or available vaginas. We can be friends with anyone without violating their rights Any persecution comes from envy or resentment that they cannot use us as a convenint sleeping bag or toilet Beback later to chat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponz Posted July 4, 2013 Author Share Posted July 4, 2013 I posted a nice comment if anyone is interested in reading it. ^__^ The name it's under is Temperance Lee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingArt Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Thank you for that, Ponz. I thought it was very well-worded and well spoken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Queer meaning everyone who is not asexual ^_^ We are the greatest/ we are terrific we are the nicest people in the world Ahem, no. "Queer" is used to indicate all non-heteronormative sexualities and/or gender identities, basically anyone who isn't heterosexual and cisgender. I notice on this board there is a tendancy to put he or she or something why ask. Guys and gals You do not have to apologise for being asexual neither do you have to allign yourself with any other group that claims persecution. We are born into a male or female body We are not slaves to our sexual urges as they are We can see people as people not as potential penis's or available vaginas. We can be friends with anyone without violating their rights Any persecution comes from envy or resentment that they cannot use us as a convenint sleeping bag or toilet Beback later to chat You should read these two threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R_1 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 About the word queer, a little search on it can indicate that there's no clear qualifier of what is queer and not to mention that definition still operates on the assumption that sexuality labels are not ambiguous where some asexuals could technically be qualified as heterosexual accordingly to other meaning and it ignores the fact that there are many heterosexuals who might easily fall under asexuality under some set of definition. As for inclusion, I can't agree with the inclusion proposal because that proposal disregards the existence of asexuals who wants nothing to do with the problems that lgbtq people experiences and prefers to stay independent. They have their rights to stay out and not want to have connotation. So, keep the inclusion covert and these people won't complain while there are so many threads that shows that there are asexuals who are opposed to the inclusion. It is when LGBTQ are considered accepted by the overwhelming majority, then maybe we can ask whether asexuality should be overtly included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Rept, I don't think there's anything bad about inclusion. The fact that the GSD/LGBT community is willing to include asexuality amongst the Sexual Diversities doesn't mean that AVEN automatically becomes a branch of it. Really, it's a step forward and nothing more. It shouldn't be seen as a threat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R_1 Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Inclusion itself isn't bad, but we still have to keep mindful of those asexuals who actually wants nothing of the bigger problems that LGBTQ faces (They exists) which is why I advocate for covert inclusion than overt inclusion or in other words, not so obvious inclusion. There are too many threads that shows why they would mind the inclusion, I'll bring them here soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Can anyone remind me what the d stands for in gsd? I know that gsm is gender and sexuality minorities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member54880 Posted July 5, 2013 Share Posted July 5, 2013 The D stands for Diversity. I don't think I've ever heard of GSD (Gender/Sexuality Diversity) until just now. I'm used to GSM (Gender/Sexuality Minority). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcovia Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 (edited) I've always heard GSM for Gender and Sexuality Minorities, but I think I like GSD better. I also echo xserpx's sentiment about the growing collection of letters. LGBTQA, LGBTQQIAAP, QUILTBAG, QUILTBAGPIPE. They're all unwieldly and too long but there is a certain charm to them and I always am happy to see my particular letter included. There's also the fact that one can see how much another person knows about this kind of stuff based on what acronym they use, but I imagine that will continue even if GSM/GSD becomes the norm. EDIT: After reading the comments on one of the articles posted, I retract my preference for GSD and now prefer GSM. Edited July 9, 2013 by Arcovia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sockpuppets Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 I love the idea of GSD! Definitely going to use it from now on and confuse the uninformed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp6xRMyji5E thought i'd add this video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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