[Gallagher]

So, what I'm stuck on, Coda.

You discuss a history in which celibacy/potential asexuality is lauded, yes. And you discuss a relatively recent political climate in which ace folks get lumped in and hated on for being part of the community.

I'm over here thinking about the things that can and do target ace folks even without an ace label, without being anywhere near connected to lgbt, without anyone even thinking that they're connected to lgbt. I know there are shared senses of feeling other, but I'm also wondering if I've stumbled onto a portion of intersectionality that isn't necessarily translating.

I don't feel like it's only my experience as someone that has lived as a woman that being asexual has been more damaging than merely feeling like an outsider or being lumped in with other queer folk. But I also don't have anyone on hand that I can directly compare situations with that relate to my asexuality that have caused me feelings of legitimate threat and danger. The notion that aphobia could be summed up as primarily identity politics is appalling to me because I've been harmed by reactions to my inclinations, or lackthereof, well before asexuality was on the radar of anyone I'd been around, or myself even. Before there were politics involved, in other words. But it's not prejudice, it's lack of understanding?

I feel like I'm going absolutely insane even dealing with this conversation. Either experiences like mine are isolated incidents, they're not being considered relevant to the conversation, or they're being completely ignored here. And I don't know what the answer is. Maybe it's not relevant. It damn sure feels like it is, though.