Although queer representation in Western media has seemed to improve, there's still one member of the LGBTQIA+ community that still remains invisible: Asexuality. Asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction; an asexual is someone who is not sexually attracted to anyone. Asexuals can be romantically attracted to other people, for example, a biromantic asexual is someone who is not sexually attracted to anyone, but is romantically attracted to males and females. There are also aromantic asexuals, who are not sexually or romantically attracted to anyone. Being asexual means different things to different people. Many asexual people still have a libido and might experience sexual desire. So, asexual people might still masturbate or have sex. Again, asexuality doesn’t always mean someone doesn’t enjoy sex. It just means they don’t experience sexual attraction.
In mainstream movies or television, we often see many characters engaging in sexual relationships or expressing the active desire to have sex (well because sex sells) but we barely see characters admit to not desiring sex.
Netflix’s hit show, Sex Education, is the first show to get this important aspect of queerness right. The show has undertaken the bold task of trying to talk about sex in a relatable yet hilarious way. Now in its second season, one particular episode discussed asexuality. The shows discussion was well thought and beautifully written. Probably the most accurate definition of asexuality ever given on TV.
For a show like Sex Education to include, talk about asexuality and actually getting it right really means alot to the ace community. The show ended the episode with a powerful quote ever heard on the show, "Sex doesn’t make us whole. And so, how could you ever be broken?”
Asexual people are not broken. Asexuality is a sexual orientation not an illness or a disorder. It is not something to be fixed or cured. Asexuals are real and deserve to be seen too, just like everybody else.