I think what the person you’re replying to was hinting at is the common understanding (at least among those with queer-awareness) of the difference between sexuality and romance.
A person could be asexual but still be in a romantic relationship that positively engages with Valentine’s Day.
I commisserate with your awful experience as a child, and that picking up the label of “asexual” probably simplifies the dialogue of explaining your situation. It sounds like your trauma affects you in ways that you are effectively asexual (and possibly aromantic). I’m not a mental health expert, just friends with queer people.
But people will be pedantic about this topic, unfortunately. You’re hitting a cross-heading of people that feel strongly about the specific definitions of these sexualities because of how much dis/misinformation there is from bad actors. There is also the reverse-reasoning that asexuality is because of something, like trauma, instead of a naturally-occuring sexuality.
I don’t write this to demean you, invalidate your experiences, or even to “teach” you, but to hopefully highlight a context from which you and some well-meaning person might align yourselves as opponents.
deleted by creator
I think what the person you’re replying to was hinting at is the common understanding (at least among those with queer-awareness) of the difference between sexuality and romance.
A person could be asexual but still be in a romantic relationship that positively engages with Valentine’s Day.
I commisserate with your awful experience as a child, and that picking up the label of “asexual” probably simplifies the dialogue of explaining your situation. It sounds like your trauma affects you in ways that you are effectively asexual (and possibly aromantic). I’m not a mental health expert, just friends with queer people.
But people will be pedantic about this topic, unfortunately. You’re hitting a cross-heading of people that feel strongly about the specific definitions of these sexualities because of how much dis/misinformation there is from bad actors. There is also the reverse-reasoning that asexuality is because of something, like trauma, instead of a naturally-occuring sexuality.
I don’t write this to demean you, invalidate your experiences, or even to “teach” you, but to hopefully highlight a context from which you and some well-meaning person might align yourselves as opponents.