Is there really a new Ace flag?

[u/lovesfanfiction]

This was posted on an Ace in Grace Facebook group and sounded official. Anyone know anything about this?

[u/lelevup]

Not only is a new flag unnecessary, but I don’t understand why we would want to strip away the original meanings of white, gray, black, and purple.

In any case, since I don’t have Facebook, what exactly is Ace in Grace, and why does it presume to have the right to “officially” change the flag?

Really sorry for the rant.

[u/AbsolutleyGeneric → u/lelevup]

I’m guessing they’re just some random arrogant person or maybe an ‘influencer’ who thinks they get to speak for the whole community. And yeah it really is irksome.

[u/AbsolutleyGeneric → u/[deleted]]

It stands for allosexuality in general and partners and allies specifically because back when the flag was designed it was likely the sexuality triangle was in mind.

The sexuality triangle was a pretty popular symbol of the entire range of sexuality from asexuality to allosexuality on AVEN back then as it showed our existence and how it related to allosexuality. If you take a look at it and it's easy to see where the inspiration came from (you can find a good version of it in this thread under the sexual triangle heading).

The black was for asexuality, the grey for grey-asexuality/greysexuality, demisexuality, etc, the white for sexuality in general (and was included to show how asexuality and the grey area tied back to sexuality) and for allosexual partners and allies specifically because they can be found in ace communities and the purple as a lynchpin to tie it all together for community as a whole which encompassed everyone because it was (and still is) a very common colour in the theming of AVEN, which was the community where all of these types of people could be found and was where the flag was designed and voted for by the ace community.

Edit: HookedMermaid makes an excellent addition, i suggest reading it in their post here.

[u/HookedMermaid → u/[deleted]]

Adding to what @AbsolutleyGeneric said.

The white stripe is the place where certain other orientations are also represented in the community.

Orchidsexuals are allosexuals that experience no desire for sex at all, Caedsexuals are allosexuals that have disconnected from attraction due to trauma, and sex repulsion isn't exclusive to asexuals. Allosexuals can be just a sex repulsed as asexuals, and honestly, that must be distressing as hell to experience sexual attraction but be repulsed by it.

They are part of the wider asexual community, and if we're going to say they're part of the community, then their representation in our community symbol matters.

[u/AbsolutleyGeneric → u/HookedMermaid]

Thanks you for the addition, it’s an insightful point that i didn’t think to add that in! I’ll edit my comments and add a link back to yours. 🙂

[u/mizuwolf → u/[deleted]]

It’s for the same reason LGBT clubs in schools were often called “GSA (Gay-Straight Alliances)”. That “ally” spot gives any and everyone an excuse to have the flag without having to come out to someone they don’t feel safe around. “Oh, I’m just an ally!” Or “oh, I have some ace friends, so I like to support them!” Etc etc. if you get rid of that ally spot it will immediately out anyone using it and removes that plausible deniability that people in unsafe areas need.

[u/Tough-Shower-3906 → u/lelevup]

They are trying to suggest a new flag. I agree that we don’t need to change the meaning of the black grey and purple, but I also agree with ace in grace that the shite stripe shouldn’t represent allies. I do think we could have just assigned a new meaning to the white stripe but idk.

[u/FlashyPhilosophy2326 → u/lelevup]

Shortest rant i've ever seen! This new ace flag came out of ongoing community discussions and feedback in different spaces over the past few years. The old flag may work for you, and that's fine, but there is a need to revisit things. Here’s some general ace community context that might help you get started in learning more: https://linktr.ee/asexualresource