TL;DR
- Majority of asexual people feel less accepted
- Study shows 63.7% report decreased visibility
- Trans and gender-expansive asexuals face worse outcomes
- Activist Yasmin Benoit highlights ongoing struggles
- Need for greater support and representation
In a world where acceptance should be the norm, a new study has uncovered a troubling trend for the asexual community. According to research from the Human Rights Campaign based on the 2025 Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey (ALCS), a staggering 50.9% of asexual individuals reported feeling less accepted over the past year. Meanwhile, a whopping 63.7% noted a decline in their visibility within the broader LGBTQ+ landscape. Yikes!
To put this in perspective, these figures are significantly worse than those for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, where only 29.7% felt less accepted and 51.1% felt less visible. Clearly, asexual folks are facing a unique set of challenges that need to be addressed.
Among those surveyed, just 4.7% identified as asexual, with 16.9% claiming asexuality as their sole identity. The rest of the asexual respondents also identified with other sexual orientations, such as aromantic, demisexual, or panromantic. Notably, 58% of those who identified as asexual also reported being transgender or gender-expansive, which adds another layer of complexity to their experiences.
When it comes to feelings of acceptance, the divide is stark. A whopping 71.7% of those who identified solely as asexual felt that acceptance was on the decline, compared to 46.1% of those who identified as both asexual and another orientation. Similarly, feelings of being open about their identity were reported by just 48% of asexuals, while 60.9% of those with multiple identities felt less open.
Activist Yasmin Benoit, who collaborated with the Human Rights Campaign on this analysis, expressed deep concern over these findings. “The asexual community has long been regarded as one of the least visible groups within the wider LGBTQIA+ community. While we have begun to see improvements over the past few years, we are still one of the communities least likely to come out, to be represented, to have legislative recognition, or to receive support from LGBTQ+ groups and organisations, all while facing many of the same issues as the rest of the LGBTQ+ community,” Benoit stated.
She continued, “In an increasingly hostile environment, and with lower levels of community support, asexual people who were gradually approaching the point of feeling safe enough to be open are retreating backward again or deeming it necessary to stay in the background. The significant overlap between the trans community and the ace community means that the impact of these rollbacks is felt even more.”
The study’s findings are especially concerning for those who identify as both asexual and transgender or gender-expansive. Among this group, 71.4% reported feeling less visible than a year ago, compared to only 45.9% of cisgender respondents. This stark contrast suggests that the struggles faced by the asexual community are compounded by the ongoing challenges experienced by trans and gender-expansive individuals.
As the asexual community grapples with these alarming statistics, it’s clear that more needs to be done to elevate their voices and ensure they receive the support and recognition they deserve. The fight for visibility and acceptance continues, and it’s up to all of us to stand in solidarity with our asexual siblings. Let’s make sure they’re seen, heard, and celebrated in the vibrant tapestry of the LGBTQ+ community.