antonia

“Maybe you find people aesthetically appealing, but since it never goes beyond that for you, you don’t know what to call yourself.”
― Julie Sondra Decker, The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality

“What ties most of these experiences together is that most asexual people have felt like outsiders in this aspect of their lives. Whether this bothers them is highly variable; some asexual people are totally comfortable on the outskirts, while others find it excruciating and devastating, feeling excluded and unable to participate in something so central to most people’s lives. That’s part of why discovering asexuality and connecting with others can be so liberating, even when it also brings new fears and questions.”
― Julie Sondra Decker, The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality

“I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather, I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live - if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.”
― Hayao Miyazaki

“Asexual people are often told they will one day find "the one" and develop sexual feelings and the values society attaches to them. Many asexual folks have to hear this over and over and over again, which thrusts a perpetual image of immaturity upon them. Asexuality is not a signal that a person is necessarily stunted emotionally or physically, and feeling sexual attraction or inclination is not the line everyone must cross to be treated like an adult. Maturity should not be measured by willingness or inclination to seek out or accept sexual experiences. [p. 7]”
― Julie Sondra Decker, The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality