demisexuality
Bond precedes attraction
Demisexuality is a sexual orientation in which a person experiences sexual attraction only after forming a strong emotional bond with someone.
Unlike people who feel immediate physical attraction to strangers, demisexuals require connection and trust before desire develops.
The term emerged from online asexual communities in the early 2000s and sits on the asexuality spectrum.
She identified as demisexual after realizing she'd never been attracted to anyone she didn't know well.
Sexual and gender minorities
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
community · authenticity · coming-out · visibility · acceptance · validation · awareness · representation
Confidence in another
- closenessState of proximity
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- understandingMental comprehension of something
attachment · bonding · comfort · safety · openness
State of flowing freely
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- aromanticFeels no romantic attraction
- variabilityTendency to change
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
Knowledge through experience
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- compatibilityMutual suitability between things
- time-dependentChanging over duration
LGBTQ+
Sexual and gender minorities
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- self-identificationClaiming an identity label
pride · community · authenticity · coming-out · visibility · acceptance · validation · awareness · representation · label
trust
Confidence in another
- closenessState of proximity
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
understanding · attachment · bonding · comfort · safety · openness
fluidity
State of flowing freely
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- aromanticFeels no romantic attraction
- variabilityTendency to change
familiarity
Knowledge through experience
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- compatibilityMutual suitability between things
- time-dependentChanging over duration
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- attractionattraction, chemistry, allure, draw, fascination
demisexualitypromiscuity
Frequent casual sexual encounters
hypersexuality · love at first sight · hookup culture · lust · physical chemistry
sexual, pansexual, sexuality, bisexual, homosexual, asexual, sexually, homosexuality, heterosexual