Aroace

A combined identity descriptor for people who are both aromantic and asexual - experiencing little to no romantic attraction and little to no sexual attraction. Aroace is not simply the co-occurrence of two separate identities but is often experienced as a unified orientation with its own distinct character, community, and culture.

Aro (aromantic) + ace (asexual). Emerged from AVEN and aromantic community spaces online in the 2000s–2010s.

As aromantic and asexual communities developed separately in the 2000s, people who identified with both began forming their own community space. The aroace identity crystallized as distinct from either aromantic-only or asexual-only experiences - aroace people often note that their simultaneous experience of both is qualitatively different from the sum of two parts. The aroace flag was designed to give this community its own distinct visual identity separate from both the aro and ace flags.

• "Aroace people are robots / emotionless." Aroace people have rich emotional lives, form deep bonds, and experience love in non-romantic and non-sexual forms.
• "Aroace people can't want relationships." Many aroace people have deeply fulfilling relationships - they simply don't involve romance or sex as defining features.

• Yasmin Benoit (1998–) - British model; identifies as aroace; #ThisIsHowAceFeels campaign