How fitting that it's Asexual Awareness Week this week. ^_^
In fact, this page mostly exists because despite being asexual myself, and that Chanel is one of my personal favorite characters in the comic, I feel like I very rarely get opportunities to explore this subject. Sure, it's mostly a gag page, but I'm glad it's in there nonetheless. I think a lot of people forget that someone's romantic orientation could potentially not match their sexual orientation (like in Chanel's case, being homoromantic but not homosexual).
Leave it to me to turn my dumb jokes into an opportunity to educate about something important to me. XD
As for the punchline, I so wanted to work the dialogue around so that the last panel could read, "Dude, she's lesbi-ish." Nothing I did to lead into that felt natural though, unfortunately. And I couldn't have Chanel say it of herself; she just doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would say "dude". XD
Oh, well. I'm sure I'll get other chances to beat that dead horse. ;P
I really don't understand how some sexual and romantic orientations could exist. Such as how could someone be heterosexual but homoromantic. Many of the others I can easily see. Not trying to cause anyone grief, but that's one I can't see possible.
In fairness, I'm sure certain combinations of romantic and sexual orientations are probably more rare or common than others. I don't think I've ever actually met a homoromantic heterosexual (or vice versa), but I absolutely believe it could happen.
However, I know quite a few biromantic/panromantic people who are otherwise heterosexual or homosexual. More often than not though, when I see romantic orientation being brought up, it's with asexual people (because many of us are still interested in relationships even if we have no sexual attraction, and it's the easiest way for us to address that).
Or was just strongly denying Bisexuality or Homosexuality. They would seem to be mutually exclusive. How can you be only sexually interested in the opposite sex, but only want to only want to be with the same sex. Or vise verse.
I don't see how that's possible.
I would guess that some might use that to indicate that someone has homoromantic feelings, but is both hetroromantic and hetrrosexual for example. (I wouldn't doubt someone if they said their romantic interests don't want their sexual interests.) Often the romantic part is implicit in terms like hetrosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.
Sorry if I'm wrong but that sounds a bit like bi/pan erasure to me. If someone specifically calls themself homoromantic then I'd expect them to be saying they don't have romantic attraction to people outside of their own gender. Otherwise, why wouldn't they say biromantic or panromantic, instead? Especially if they're also heterosexual, and so, not used to assuming themself to be entirely gay/lesbian anyway. And there are people who have this contradictory-seeming combo of attractions out there, I posted an account from one just above.
Well, if you want it straight from the homoromantic heterosexual's mouth - this is Wendy Liu who wrote about the experience publically:
"I'm a woman and I consider myself as homoromantic heterosexual. When I was young, it really confused me for a while. I like girls for sure, but mostly in a romantic way. I don't want to have sex with them, although i was totally emotionally in love with them. However, I always get excited by men, more physically. Sexy men can easily turn me on. I'd love to have sex with them. But if I take further step to turn sexual attraction to emotional one with men, I always failed. Having a stable relationship with men makes me feel sort of empty, I don't know how to describe it, it's a quite strange feeling, likes there is no connection between us no matter how I try."
I think you're looking at it wrong @T Dog
You're thinking attraction and the desire to have sex are the same thing. one person can have non sexual fellings towards another person regardless of gender or oreintation And have a sexual prefrence that is specific
Something I've been meaning to ask and this seems an ideal place. Brother Arthur and Father Quentin are both listed as asexual in the character bios, is that because of their status as priest or completely unrelated?
I think you would mean celibate. Yes, it has to do with the vows they take. Be it priesthood or religious life, there's a vow of chastity involved that is essentially mandatory celibacy.
With all due respect, Lemonado Girl, celibacy and asexuality are two very different things. Asexuality by definition is experiencing no sexual attraction, while celibacy is a deliberate, chosen abstinance. Someone who is celibate may or may not experience sexual attraction, and someone who is asexual may or may not be celibate.
Brother Arthur is labelled as asexual in the character pages, as SilentNight stated.
I'm aware of celibacy being a part of Catholic priesthood, I'm wondering if they were asexual before joining the clergy or are merely denoted as such now because of their vows.
Admittedly, whenever I finish the overhaul update to the character page, I'll probably just label them both as celibate. I think I either had my own misunderstandings about the definitions when I wrote that up OR I knew what I was doing but thought making them asexual would be better somehow. Honestly, I now think it's actually a bit problematic as there is a lot of confusion (in general) that asexuality is synonymous with celibacy. So I think I'd rather separate the two so as not to unintentionally perpetuate this myth.
So yeah, oversight on my part. My bad. You can just consider them celibate, rather than ace. Again, it'll be fixed on the next update.
The books are only available on Lulu. I'm aware that some people are uncomfortable with sites they don't know, but I can assure you that it is a safe and totally legit website. I've ordered dozens of books from there myself, and have sold hundreds, and I've only heard of one instance of a snafu (which was resolved quickly and painlessly by simply contacting Lulu).
Father Quentin is listed as "Unknown." And while celibacy =/= asexuality, who's to say Brother Arthur ~isn't~ also asexual? ...well, Jocelyn, obviously. <3
Chanel is for sure my fave XD I just realized thoug, she's the only whose family/at-home-life we haven't seen. Are we going to ever get to see Chanel's family?
Well, there's a reason we don't see Emily's. Her mother is said to be a huge business traveller, and her father isn't in the picture, if I remember correctly.
Yay for representation, and a giggle to soften the seriosity. I'm on the spectrum myself, being sexual-curious. (and panromantic, gay-leaning, and with a handful of other GRSM flags set to "1")
I gather that some peops desire sexual interaction outside the context of a romantic relationship, and I'm trying to understand how that works. I don't know if I'm on the right track, but I compare it to how I feel averse to the idea of mixing sexual intimacy with some particular types of relationships, such as familial, or cross-generational, or asymmetric relationships. (such as with my therapists, for example) For me at least, the idea is not mind-boggling when so approached; I just add "romantic" to that group.
...and from there, the idea of a subset of those folks having heart-feels and pants-feels for peops of different, non-overlapping ranges of genders seems a trivial step.
Also I love Rudy's face in the last panel. Priceless.
You're welcome. ;3
In fairness, I'm sure certain combinations of romantic and sexual orientations are probably more rare or common than others. I don't think I've ever actually met a homoromantic heterosexual (or vice versa), but I absolutely believe it could happen.
However, I know quite a few biromantic/panromantic people who are otherwise heterosexual or homosexual. More often than not though, when I see romantic orientation being brought up, it's with asexual people (because many of us are still interested in relationships even if we have no sexual attraction, and it's the easiest way for us to address that).
I don't see how that's possible.
Language isn't always precise in use.
"I'm a woman and I consider myself as homoromantic heterosexual. When I was young, it really confused me for a while. I like girls for sure, but mostly in a romantic way. I don't want to have sex with them, although i was totally emotionally in love with them. However, I always get excited by men, more physically. Sexy men can easily turn me on. I'd love to have sex with them. But if I take further step to turn sexual attraction to emotional one with men, I always failed. Having a stable relationship with men makes me feel sort of empty, I don't know how to describe it, it's a quite strange feeling, likes there is no connection between us no matter how I try."
You're thinking attraction and the desire to have sex are the same thing. one person can have non sexual fellings towards another person regardless of gender or oreintation And have a sexual prefrence that is specific
Brother Arthur is labelled as asexual in the character pages, as SilentNight stated.
Admittedly, whenever I finish the overhaul update to the character page, I'll probably just label them both as celibate. I think I either had my own misunderstandings about the definitions when I wrote that up OR I knew what I was doing but thought making them asexual would be better somehow. Honestly, I now think it's actually a bit problematic as there is a lot of confusion (in general) that asexuality is synonymous with celibacy. So I think I'd rather separate the two so as not to unintentionally perpetuate this myth.
So yeah, oversight on my part. My bad. You can just consider them celibate, rather than ace. Again, it'll be fixed on the next update.
The books are only available on Lulu. I'm aware that some people are uncomfortable with sites they don't know, but I can assure you that it is a safe and totally legit website. I've ordered dozens of books from there myself, and have sold hundreds, and I've only heard of one instance of a snafu (which was resolved quickly and painlessly by simply contacting Lulu).
I hope this helps. :)
"I'm sorry, I'm not really interested in dating. Lesbi-friends."
"When we finish college, Maria and I are opening a hotel purely for gay women. Lesbi-inn."
:3
I gather that some peops desire sexual interaction outside the context of a romantic relationship, and I'm trying to understand how that works. I don't know if I'm on the right track, but I compare it to how I feel averse to the idea of mixing sexual intimacy with some particular types of relationships, such as familial, or cross-generational, or asymmetric relationships. (such as with my therapists, for example) For me at least, the idea is not mind-boggling when so approached; I just add "romantic" to that group.
...and from there, the idea of a subset of those folks having heart-feels and pants-feels for peops of different, non-overlapping ranges of genders seems a trivial step.