Although asexuality is often misunderstood as a “flaw” or a negative experience, it is actually just like any other sexuality. The Trevor Project says, “Asexual people (also known as 'aces' or 'aces') may have little interest in sex, even if they desire an emotionally intimate relationship. “It has said. As the Ace community continues to grow, there are plenty of asexual celebrities you should know about. Whether they're activists, artists, or creators, they continue to inspire others just by being themselves.
Not only are there some famous asexual figures in today's society, but historians believe there are people like Isaac Newton and Marilyn Monroe who would identify as asexual if they were alive. I am. Some people don't fully understand what asexuality is, so they don't realize that there are many ways to identify as asexual. The Trevor Project also explains that many Aces “desire emotionally loving relationships,” while others feel no romantic attraction.
Here are 5 asexual celebrities you should know about!
1. Yasmin Benoit (she/her)
Yasmin Benoit is a British model who often appears in lingerie designs. She is also a pioneer in her representation of POC in alternative ways. Most importantly, Benoit is an asexual activist who started the #ThisIsWhatAsexerityLooksLike movement. According to them, the model co-founded International Asexuality Day in 2021. She continues her activism through her writing, where she often speaks about being a Black Ace and the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality.
2. Janine Garofalo (she/her)
You may know her as Beth on Wet Hot American Summer or as the funny lady on Saturday Night Live. Yet, in addition to being an acclaimed comedian, Garofalo also identifies as asexual. The actress often talks about her sexuality in her stand-up comedy shows, and she has said that she is not a very sexual person. During an episode of her podcast, Dyking Out, she revealed that she has never experienced the urge to have sex and that she can live without it.
3. Michaela Cole (she/her)
Known for producing and starring in Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel has made a name for herself in Hollywood as a screenwriter and actress. Many of her fans may not know that she is on the asexual spectrum. In 2018, she admitted in an interview with Culture Trip that she is aromantic.
“I Googled aromaticism and I was like, 'Oh, that's me.'” She continued, “I'm fine with being alone. I'm fine with having intimate relationships. I like it, but I don't want to change people, nor do I want anyone to change me.”
4. Tim Gunn (he/him)
Tim Gunn first rose to fame as a fashion guru on “Project Runway,” but he has long been a prominent figure in the fashion industry. In addition to his fashion expertise, Gunn revealed in 2010 that he is asexual. According to LGBTQ Nation, Gunn got candid about his own sexuality in an interview with People magazine, stating that he didn't really know what his sexuality was.
“For a long time, I didn't know what I was. I knew what I wasn't: I wasn't interested in boys, and I wasn't really interested in girls either. ” he said.
Although he had been in relationships in the past, he recalled that he had always been “kind of asexual.” Gunn has also been open about being single, having not been in a relationship since 1982. He blames this on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. He remained single into the 2000s, revealing he was a “completely happy and fulfilled person”. He doesn't have a “sexless policy,” but he's not driven by desire either.
5. David Archuleta (he/him)
We all know him on American Idol as the Season 7 runner-up, but in 2021, David Archuleta became known for an important cause. Not only did he come out as queer, he openly struggled with being asexual. In a post on her Instagram, the singer said, “For the past few years, I have been open with myself and my immediate family about how unsure I am of my own sexuality.” “I came out as gay to my family in 2014. But at the time I had similar feelings towards both genders, so maybe I'm on the bisexual spectrum. I also realized that I don't have as much sexual desire or drive as others, and I think that's probably because I'm determined to protect myself until marriage. People who don't feel that way are called asexuals.
These asexual celebrities are not only trailblazers in the Ace community, but also role models for those who may experience the same emotions and struggles regarding sexuality.