Greysexual, sometimes shortened to gray-sexual or grey-asexual, is a sexual orientation situated between asexuality and sexuality. Individuals who identify as greysexual experience sexual attraction infrequently, under specific circumstances, or to a very low degree. This can manifest in various ways, such as only experiencing attraction after forming a deep emotional bond, only feeling attraction rarely or sporadically, or experiencing attraction but with little or no desire for sexual activity. The greysexual experience is diverse, encompassing a spectrum of attraction and desire rather than fitting neatly into a single box. It is considered part of the asexual umbrella, meaning greysexual people do not experience frequent sexual attraction in general, but differ from asexual individuals through occasional sexual attraction. The term highlights the nuanced and varied experiences of sexual attraction and identity.
Greysexual meaning with examples
- Sarah realized she was greysexual after years of feeling confused about her lack of frequent sexual attraction. She found that she occasionally experienced attraction towards someone she had a strong emotional connection with. It wasn’t constant, nor did it drive her desire for sex like she saw with other people, but it was present. Discovering the term greysexual gave her a framework to understand her experience.
- Mark often felt neutral towards sex and romance, but he began to understand his own greysexuality. He realized that under certain circumstances, like a specific type of movie or with a specific kind of partner, he could experience attraction. For the most part, he didn't experience it. His greysexual experience was highly situational, and he felt that the greysexual label fit him best.
- Even though it was a difficult journey, Emma was grateful to find the greysexual identity. She explained that her experience of attraction felt faded and distant. It could be years before she experienced it. She felt that she fell on a gradient, rather than being fully asexual or fully sexual. Identifying as greysexual helped her communicate her experience to others and accept herself.
- Throughout his life, David has felt sexual attraction only a handful of times, always with individuals with whom he had formed deep and lasting emotional bonds. The experience was not something he actively sought or desired often. After some research, he came across the term 'greysexual' and found it perfectly described his infrequent and contextual experiences, making him feel validated.
- Lena felt like she experienced sexual attraction, but not always. She felt on a spectrum of sexual experiences. Sometimes she feels attraction that leads to no interest in sex or romance, and at other times, she feels nothing. She found the term 'greysexual' helped her to understand and define this fluctuating experience, connecting with a supportive online community.