Demisexual
(also: demi)
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- General Information
- Demisexual Flag
- External Links
- Terminology Resources
- Flag Resources
- Experiences Resources
- Representation Resources
- Forums
- Wiki
- Additional Resources
- See Also
- Return to the Definition
Introduction
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General Information
Demisexuality is on the asexual spectrum. People who are demisexual experience sexual attraction more often than people who are asexual, but less often than people who are allosexual.
Someone who is demisexual only experiences sexual attraction to someone after first experiencing strong emotional connection attraction (or at least getting to know them first in a positive way). The length of time it takes for someone who is demisexual to develop an emotional bond with another person that results in sexual feelings can vary from person to person. Please note that someone who is demisexual is not necessarily going to develop sexual feelings towards everyone that they develop an emotional connection with.
Some people who are demisexual may use other terms to describe their romantic orientation or sexual orientation; such as "gay" or "straight" or "bi" depending on the typical targets of their eventual attraction (if there is a recognizable pattern). However, not everyone wishes to (or is able to) be so specific about their own self-identification.
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Demisexual Pride Flag
The black triangle on demisexual flag represents the asexual community and the asexual spectrum.
The white stripe in the demisexual flag represents sexuality.
The purple stripe in the demisexual flag represents community.
The gray stripe in the demisexual flag represents gray asexuality and the gray-ace community.
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External Links
The following links have been provided for entertainment, education, or further reading to encourage seeking out additional information. None of these links are sponsored, nor endorsed. The inclusion of an article/video/etc is not complete approval for its contents. The thoughts/views/opinions/etc of everything included below do not inherently represent those of The Transgender Dictionary.
Terminology Resources
- Asexuality: sonofzeal: 02/08/2006: I propose "demisexuals". ^^ (https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/14000-asexual-sex/?do=findComment&comment=375635) - original coining of the term "demisexual"
- Critique of Popular Reason: 05/08/2013: The development of gray asexuality and demisexuality as identity terms (https://pianycist.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/the-development-of-gray-asexuality-and-demisexuality-as-identity-terms/) - blog post regarding the coining of the term demisexuality and similar terms
- Dictionary - Demisexual (https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/demisexual/) - definition of demisexuality
- Trans Language Primer - Demisexual (https://translanguageprimer.com/demisexual/) - blurb explaining the term demisexual
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Flag Resources
- Entity Mag: Elena Ender: 06/21/2017: What the Demisexual Flag Really Represents (https://www.entitymag.com/demisexual-flag-meaning/) - article explaining the demisexual flag and comparison to asexual flag
- Good Good Good: Kamrin Baker: 01/04/2024: What Is the Demisexual Pride Flag & What Does It Mean? (https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/demisexual-pride-flag) - article regarding demisexual meaning, flag meaning, flag history
- LGBTQ Nation: 06/30/2022: All about the demisexual flag (https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/06/all-about-the-demisexual-flag/)
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Experiences Resources
- Asexual Agenda: queenieofaces: 01/24/2013: Visualizing demisexuality (https://asexualagenda.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/visualizing-demisexuality/) - a blog post containing a series of diagrams demonstrating how the label of demisexuality operates as a term to describe the way attraction is experienced, rather than as a specific orientation in it of itself
- Next Step: Cake: Sennkestra: 05/10/2014: Categories are Complicated, or: What Tomatoes have to tell us about Demisexuality (https://nextstepcake.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/categories-are-complicate-or-what-tomatoes-have-to-tell-us-about-demisexuality/) - essay/article regarding how demisexual can be considered more of a descriptor for the nature of sexual attraction rather than a sexuality on its own
- Wayback Machine: Bitch Magazine: Hanna White: 06/12/2013: Why Do People Keep Calling my Sexuality "Noble"? (https://web.archive.org/web/20150304084157/http://bitchmagazine.org/post/an-outsiders-perspective-on-sex-and-morality-in-hollywood)
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Representation Resources
- Queer Books for Teens - Demisexual (https://queerbooksforteens.com/find-books/?fwp_orientation=demisexual) - list of books with demisexual characters
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Forums
- Reddit - r/Demisexuality (https://www.reddit.com/r/demisexuality/) - subreddit for topics related to demisexuality
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Wikis
- LGBTQIA - Fandom - Wiki - Demisexual (https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Demisexual)
- LGBTQIA - Wiki - Demiromantic (https://lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Demiromantic)
- Orientation - Fandom - Wiki - Demisexual (https://orientation.fandom.com/wiki/Demisexual)
- Queerdom - Fandom - Wiki - Demisexual (https://queerdom.fandom.com/wiki/Demisexual)
- Wikipedia - Demisexuality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demisexuality)
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Additional Resources
- Cleveland Clinic: 04/11/2022: Demisexuality (https://web.archive.org/web/20241120124120/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22678-demisexuality) - article explaining demisexuality meaning and frequently asked questions
- demisexuality.org (https://demisexuality.org/) - directory regarding all things to do with demisexuality
- Demisexuality.org - What is demisexuality? (https://demisexuality.org/articles/what-is-demisexuality/) - explanation of demisexuality & frequently asked questions
- Good Men Project: Olivia Davis: 08/08/2012: In Defense of Demisexuality (https://goodmenproject.com/gender-fight/in-defense-of-demisexuality/)
- Healthline: E. Mimi Arquilla, DO & Sian Ferguson: 12/19/2023: What Is Demisexuality? (https://www.healthline.com/health/demisexual)
- VeryWellMind: Wendy Rose Gould & Ivy Kwong, LMFT: 12/03/2023: How to Know If You're Demisexual (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-demisexual-5082519)
- VeryWellHealth: Elizabeth Boskey, PhD & Lauren Schlanger, MD: 08/23/2024: Understanding What Demisexual Means (https://www.verywellhealth.com/demisexual-5077647)
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See also the pages for agender, queer platonic relationships, aphallia, and aromantic.
