Asexual symbols

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Like other sexual minority communities, asexuals have a number of symbols. Symbols demonstrate unity, pride, shared values, and allegiance to one another, as well as communicate ideas, concepts, and identity both within our community and to mainstream culture. Giving people something to associate themselves with provides normality to what is an overall socially-isolating situation.

Flags and colours

Asexuality

The asexuality flag is the most widely recognised symbol for asexuality (which you can see here). The flag consists of four horizontal stripes: from top to bottom they are black, grey, white, and purple. The black stripe represents asexuality, the grey stripe represents grey-sexuality, the white stripe represents sexuality, and the purple stripe represents the a-spectrum community.

The flag in its current design was announced in 2010.

Other a-spectrum flags include the following.

Aromanticism

Demisexuality & demiromanticism

Grey-sexuality & grey-romanticism

Ring

A black ring worn on the middle finger of the right hand is a common symbol of the asexual community. The material and exact design of the ring are not important as long as it is primarily black.

Rings like this provide asexuals with a discreet visual clue that the people around them may also be asexual. They can also be an inoffensive way of psychologically 'trying out' an asexual identity to see if it fits. Similar to coming out, wearing a ring can help an idea become more real over time and eventually lead to comfort, self-acceptance, and a feeling of being connected to others.

The symbol of a black ring originated from a 2005 AVEN thread, being a subversion of the traditional wedding band that demonstrated a rejection traditional relationship values. However, even at the time this was recognised as not an appropriate message to represent asexuality as a whole, and in the broader community the ring has never carried any such connotation.

Cake

Cake is used as a symbol for asexuality by allusion to the common observation that asexuals prefer cake to sex. Although some asexuals may enjoy sex more than cake, the observation highlights how many asexuals see sex as something ordinary, like eating a cake.

Other foods may be used instead with the same intended effect, notably garlic bread.

The ace of spades

Based on a pun on the word 'ace', the ace of spades, or more generally the spade symbol found on playing cards, is used as a symbol for asexuality. Spades is used because it is recognisable, and because it is by far the most likely to come to mind when thinking of an ace in a set of playing cards.