Asexuality is a sexual orientation, not a disorder
Asexuality was once considered a psychiatric disorder. It's now recognized as a sexual orientation, but there are still plenty of misconceptions about what it means to be asexual....
Asexuality was once considered a psychiatric disorder. It's now recognized as a sexual orientation, but there are still plenty of misconceptions about what it means to be asexual.
And if most Canadians don't know much about asexuality, the scientific community isn't that much further ahead.
Despite the confusion, those who identify as asexual say it's time they were recognized. The Asexual Visibility and Education Network is going to be part of WorldPride events in Toronto next month, hosting its own conference.
- Sam Godfrey is a student at McMaster University and the co-editor of Incite Magazine, a student-run monthly publication. She identifies as asexual.
- Dr. Lori Brotto is the Director of the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory and an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UBC. She says there was not much medical research into asexuality when her team began studying it in 2002. Since then, she has conducted about a dozen studies.
- Anthony F. Bogaert is a Professor of Health Sciences and Psychology at Brock University and author of, Understanding Asexuality.
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This segment was produced by The Current's Cynthia Vukets and Shannon Higgins.