Asexuals ‘isolated and picked on’ for not having sex

Ireland’s asexuals — people who don’t experience sexual attraction — say they are isolated and picked on for not having sex.

It is claimed one percent of the global population is asexual, so, shockingly or not, there could be up to 45,000 people in Ireland with no interest in sex.

Known as ‘aces’, asexuals claim they have low-to-nil sexual urges, something that puts them out of sync with most of the population.

Vivien White, an asexual and spokesperson for Asexuality in Ireland, feels a lot of people are unsure of asexuals and see them as a threat to the country’s new-found sexual liberation

“A lot of people in modern Ireland are riding the wave of sex positivism and they see us as a threat to them. It’s strange but I think that’s why people think asexuality is wrong,” he said.

“Today, people go around talking about how many people they’ve slept with and we’re essentially doing the opposite.”

Despite this, the 23-year-old argues life without sex and urges is entirely natural for some. “I was just 15-years-old when I realised my interest in sex was a lot less than the people around me. I found the whole thing annoying and a complete waste of time.

“I don’t want or need sex to enjoy my life and I’m not alone,” Mr White said.

This year a handful of Irish asexuals marched in Dublin Pride Parade carrying the banner “asexuals exist”.

Mr White said: “Even though only a small group of us participated in Dublin Pride Parade this year, we are a growing group. The community is more online as people can be quite shy about meeting up with strangers they’ve only spoken to on the internet.

“Generally responses range from neutral to angry. People tell me I’m not mature enough and I don’t have enough experience. People can be hostile but then there are always those who appreciate what I’m doing.”

Mr White said the community is also an important outlet for older people with zero libido.

“We have meet-ups and these are vital for older asexuals who’ve spent their lives trying to fit into other people’s ideals. For a lot of them it’s the first time they’ve met people who understand.”

Asexuals say that even though sex doesn’t arouse them, they can still form romantic attachments. However, American sex commentator Dan Savage described it as a ‘nothing’ sexuality.

Mr Savage’s comments sparked an outcry among Ireland’s asexuals with Mr White claiming he denies asexuals existence.

“Hostility from such an important member of the American gay community is ironic, since gay people are roughly 10% as common as common as straight people, and asexuals are 10% as common as gay people,” Mr White said.