Article on Italian magazine "Gente"

[ithaca]

BOOM! Look at this! Not the best article I've read, to be honest. But still, visibility that is bringing newbies ;)

The translation!

(Top writing: GENTE "Virgin Love. A new people of men and women out in the open")

US, ASEXUALS
HAPPINESS WITHOUT EROS

By Andrea Sceresini

Side Writing Above: "They're not interested in sex and they've chosen not to have it. They gather in web communities and grow more and more in numbers"
Side Writing Below: "MODERN ANGELS - According to statistics, asexual people (described by these two pictures) make up 3% of the global population. David Jay (in the small pic on the right) has founded, in 2001, AVEN, the first association that gathers and represents them"

ARTICLE PAGE 1

Giorgia is a pretty 25 years old girl. She has blue eyes, a cunning smile and is happily virgin. Lorenzo is 54 instead: he's been married and has a son. After divorcing, he found out that he never actually liked sex that much: today he lives very well without it. They're not prudes, nor bigots, nor disturbed. They've been defined the "third sex": according to some statistics, they represent 3% of the world population. They're asexual people: eros is not within their interests, they feel no sexual attraction, and are content this way. It was 2001 when one of them, an American kid with curly hair named David Jay, figured out he wasn't a "white fly" (italian phrase that indicates something very rare). He decided to come out and founded AVEN (www.asexuality.org), the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, that today counts dozens of thousands of members.

ARTICLE PAGE 2
"I found AVEN in 2005" says Raffaella Moroni, 28. "Before that, I thought I was an exception: I didn't know the term 'asexual', I only knew I was different from the norm. It was freeing. I've met other people like me and gained the courage to come out: I told my sister. Her reaction, which I feared so much, was the following: "That's it?".

The Italian forum was founded in 2005, it has 1500 members and keeps growing. The founder is a 30 y-o IT from Bologna, with long hair and a passion for poetry. His name is Emanuele Renda and he recently launched his new creature: www.asessualitaliani.org. "I tend to make a great distinction between sex and feelings", explains. "When I happened to fall in love, I've never considered sexual activities as a priority. Sex is a physiological act, in my opinion: I don't understand what it has to do with love. It's a link I really don't understand". How can I say this: they may seem bizarre maybe. But the thing is mutual.

Every day, through the thousands web roads, the young community grows with new members: men and women of any age, class and culture who find out they belong to the same people. Not everyone love showing their face. Most are shy and prefer hide behind complicated nicknames. "There are many prejudices", ensures a girl. "For most 'sexuals', meaning those who have sex, we are sick people, or at least eccentric. It's not easy. Sooner or later, if you're a woman, you meet the classic guy who would like to try and 'fix' you his way, without many ceremonies". It's a complicated universe.


ARTICLE PAGE 3
The theorics in the "network" (AVEN?) talk about four big categories: there are asexuals of type A, who feel physical urges but no physical attraction; those of type B, enthusiasts of romantic love. And again those of type C: they know about eros, but they find it extraneous to romantic relationships. And eventually, those of type D, the most orthodox: those who feel no kind of attraction.

Matteo Turini, who joined AVEN in 2008, explains: "There are people who are asexual and aromantic. Others are hetero, homo or biromantic. The world is beautiful because it is varied, right?". Matteo is 26 and lives in Tuscany. He's been engaged with several girls and lost his virginity in high school. "Sex in itself has never been something problematic for me", he says. "I was simply not interested in doing it and so I had to force myseld every time. Then, aroud my 20s, I started asking myself some questions: who was I? Why did I not experience sexual attraction? At first I wondered if I were gay, but the answer was different, and I found it exploring the Web: I'm asexual". No fears, no preconceptions: today Matteo found his balance, and he's happy this way. "Sometimes obviously there are hard situations", he admits. "You start crushing on someone: maybe you start thinking of a possible relationship, but then you find out she has sexual interests and things get complicated. You need to tread carefully: in doubt, it's best to stay friends".

It's been 11 years since AVEN was founded. David Jay and his followers have not stopped and they keep working: they gave life to a sophisticated online encyclopedia, Avenwiki, all dedicated to asexuality. They've given themselves their own symbol, an upside-down triangle with a black tip and a white base, and they have filed a long list of allegedly asexual celebrities of the past. The only acclaimed case is the one of Nikola Tesla, the Serbian brilliant inventor, who publicly asserted his aversion to eros. But the names that stand out more are others: Immanuel Kant, Isaac Newton, Jorge Luis Borges, Simon Weil. Will this be true? Maybe: but eventually what does it matter? It's just posthumous curiosity and most asexuals really have other priorities.

Alessia lives in Verona, is 35 and is transexual. The­y call her Alexia Madiswill and her story is really peculiar. "Unlike most transwomen, I've always liked women", she says. "I've worked in the field of image: I used to do tv, photo services, fashion. I had lots of men around me, but mostly I had a partner, which is the same woman I live with now and whom I've always been so much in love with. I've attended environments that oozed eros, but I have always been less and less interested in eros". Because of the many hormonal therapies, maybe. But eventually what matters is the result: "I rediscovered myself asexual and it's been freeing. Today I feel more confident, more complete: love freed itself from the burden of sex, it became more genuine, more sincere". From transexual to trans-asexual. Maybe it's a little cacophonous: but this too, eventually, is a happy ending.


PICS CAPTIONS: (from the top)
HONOURS AND FAME WITH THAT SECRET - Some great historical characters were likely asexual: above, the philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-2804); on the left, the scientist Isaac Newton (1642, 1727), who discovered the law of gravity.
THE NOBEL OF SUSPICIONS - Accorsing to the specialized website Avenwiki, the writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) was also likely asexual
HE WASN'T GAY - Edgar Hoover (1895-1972), founder of the FBI and alleged asexual

Ok ok ok I know, some things are hilarious, some are facepalm-worthy, like the two pics that allegedly describe us (seriously?!?) and the fact that that Emanuele Renda is the founder of AVENit are ridiculous if not outright insulting (especially the latter, who knows him will get it).

Anyway, it's one of those classic "housewife-magazines" you find at the hairdresser. Just check this out to get an idea. But it is doing its job with bringing newbies to AVEN Italy (and sadly to Emanuele's dead website too).

So, kudos to those long-standing Italian AVENites who got themselves interviewed, thanks for your visibility work

[That asexual guy]

Isn't there a saying that all publicity is good publicity?

[kidnappedbyaliens]

removed by poster

[SpadeofAces]

Promising... ^_^

[Palovana]

Even though some of the information isn't correct, I appreciate it all the same.

(I do like how they describe us as "modern angels". ;))

[Guest]

Well peeps, keep in mind that visibility isn't nearly as good in Italy as it is elsewhere. I know something about it. :P

It's still good that they took interest in asexuality, even with the (sometimes laughable) mistakes.

[Plumcots]

MODERN ANGELS, that made me laugh xD

[gypsy_princess]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

[ithaca]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

[gypsy_princess]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

sì ^_^

[ithaca]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

sì ^_^

Cool :o are you also on AVEN Italy? :o :o :o

We should totally plan a meetup wherever you are :o (if you feel like it)

[gypsy_princess]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

sì ^_^

Cool :o are you also on AVEN Italy? :o :o :o

We should totally plan a meetup wherever you are :o (if you feel like it)

yes but I'm never on AVEN Italy because I'm always on here ;)

omg that would be amazing *_*

[ithaca]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

sì ^_^

Cool :o are you also on AVEN Italy? :o :o :o

We should totally plan a meetup wherever you are :o (if you feel like it)

yes but I'm never on AVEN Italy because I'm always on here ;)

omg that would be amazing *_*

You can PM me if you don't feel like sharing your location here, or I'm ok with posting any whereabouts here or in Meetup Mart where a sad thread is sad: http://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/82436-anyone-living-in-italy/

[gypsy_princess]

well, this was not such a bad article. even though I know that you need to take Gente's articles (I've read it only a few times, but they were enough) with a grain of salt.

but the pictures they chose...

Yeah, the pics literally gave me nausea..

Are you Italian? :o

sì ^_^

Cool :o are you also on AVEN Italy? :o :o :o

We should totally plan a meetup wherever you are :o (if you feel like it)

yes but I'm never on AVEN Italy because I'm always on here ;)

omg that would be amazing *_*

You can PM me if you don't feel like sharing your location here, or I'm ok with posting any whereabouts here or in Meetup Mart where a sad thread is sad: http://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/82436-anyone-living-in-italy/

I'll PM you :)

[TiaTitan]

It looks like they're implying Emanuele Renda is rather an advocate for the Italian Ace community rather than a founder of AVEN.

Anyhow, as for the percentage, do you know where they got 3% from? I've always heard 1% and often thought at times that maybe the percentage is lower than that as it seems to hard to find fellow Aces.

And do you know what they mean by the 'third sex'? Is this perhaps confusion over people who feel gender-queer?

.. They've been defined the "third sex"...

[ithaca]

It looks like they're implying Emanuele Renda is rather an advocate for the Italian Ace community rather than a founder of AVEN.

Anyhow, as for the percentage, do you know where they got 3% from? I've always heard 1% and often thought at times that maybe the percentage is lower than that as it seems to hard to find fellow Aces.

And do you know what they mean by the 'third sex'? Is this perhaps confusion over people who feel gender-queer?

.. They've been defined the "third sex"...

They actually outright said Emanuele is the founder of AVEN Italy, which is a big mistake/lie.

There are different studies showing different percentages, depending on samples and what specifically they were looking for. I'm not an expert though, and I don't remember what each study said.

I'm not really sure what they mean with the "third sex". Some people think of asexuals as people with no sexual organs (or no functioning ones), ergo why they compare us to angels. I guess that could be it? In some articles (Italian and not) on asexuality, there were naked Barbie/Ken dolls too, just saying.

[TiaTitan]

Ah, I misread what they said about Emanuele.

I'm not really sure what they mean with the "third sex". Some people think of asexuals as people with no sexual organs (or no functioning ones), ergo why they compare us to angels. I guess that could be it? In some articles (Italian and not) on asexuality, there were naked Barbie/Ken dolls too, just saying.

Haha and I didn't realize there was that basis for angel comparison! I guess someone coming across the word 'asexual' for the first time may take the word super literally and think that in regards to organs and such.