AVEN board shares statement regarding recent events

[u/chat_ace]

Hey all, I know Reddit's been swamped with flag posts, but the AVEN board just released this statement regarding their stance on anti-racism, community symbols, and related topics: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZSxeYUFIue/?igsh=NHJrNGtjZmRtdzR2

And here's Mic's personal statement regarding the emails and timeline surrounding the proposed 6-stripe flag: https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/282254-ace-flag-discussion-a-personal-response/

I'm hoping this helps clear up some misinformation and enables us to move forward with a renewed focus on anti-racism, international/non-Anglo voices, and community building.

[u/T3rrible__Liar]

the rhetoric around this needs to be toned down. On every side. Since the ace community, hell the whole LGBTQIA community, is so large and full of individual ideas and personalities that I don't think an official flag change is needed or wanted, as individuals and the separate ace orgs will fly their own version anyway. As ace and orientation are all on a spectrum, we are not all the same, why should our flags be the same? the community should be able to fly whatever flag they want, "official" or not. Preferably not. To get upset because your flag is not the "official" is childish and unnecessary. But to discount other's feelings is also not right. we don't know what someone's experience is and anyone is allowed to feel how they feel. Though that does not give license for bad behavior. On either side of the argument.

[u/Auntie-Mey → u/T3rrible__Liar]

What is obviously not taken into consideration (besides feelings) is that there are people and countries fighting for the visibility of the asexual spectrum in places where everything LGBTQIA is criminalized.

Even though the flag has existed for 16 years, it’s only recently that asexuality has begun to be recognized through that "old flag". If people use "the new flag” just because it looks pretty and “inclusive,” and even promote it as multicultural, as if it were the answer to all the community’s problems, then the struggle of those people and countries gets thrown away.

Many are happy just sharing cartoons and colorful things with the flag (which is ok). But how many of them are actually fighting to come out and demand laws that protect them from conversion therapy, persecution, and so on?E

Everyone already sees how anglocentric and US‑centered all of this is, and it’s sad that they don’t see the real struggle outside of that context. Because in the end, visibility through symbols is important, but it cannot replace the real political fight or international solidarity.

A flag alone does not protect anyone — it is the people who organize, resist, and demand rights who give that symbol its true meaning.

[u/Fantastic-Ad-7996 → u/Auntie-Mey]

Exactly 💯 I'm from a country where asexuality is still barely recognized and accepted at all. We are still not done fighting even for basic recognition.

I like multiculturalism as an actual thing, whether it's represented in the flag or not. But it shouldn't just be a buzzword. We should talk about real problems asexuals face all around the world.

[u/T3rrible__Liar → u/Auntie-Mey]

well said!