Gayety: Historically ace folks often find themselves relegated to the margins of Pride celebrations, if they’re included at all. What message do you have for young ace folks out there trying to carve out a space for themselves during Pride month?

Yasmin: This is our space. Asexual people are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We belong at Pride as much as everyone else. It’s just as essential for us to feel it, to experience it, to celebrate it, and to unite with the rest of the community to fight for our equality. I encourage all aces to forget about the discourse, get out there, and make some noise. If we don’t, then we’ll always be invisible.

Gayety: There are some that think of Pride parades as inherently sexual events. What do you have to say to those people as the first-ever asexual grand marshal of NYC Pride?

Yasmin: Pride isn’t just about sex because being queer isn’t just about sex. There’s so much more to our experiences and identities than who we’re having sex with and how. But the sexual elements that are present aren’t a problem. Asexuality doesn’t mean being anti-sex, and Pride should be a space where people should be able to be open about how they feel, whether they want to have loads of sex or none at all. Pride is a protest, a celebration, and a campaign that challenges heteronormativity, and your discourse about sexuality is incomplete if asexuality isn’t included.

Gayety: Both the U.S. and the U.K. are in the depths of a moral panic surrounding queerness right now, making this quite a symbolic moment. As the only British grand marshal at NYC Pride, and the creator of #InternationalAsexualityDay, what can queer folks learn from one another on an international level?

Yasmin: It isn’t the easiest time to be queer right now, which makes Pride events even more important. I’m really grateful to be able to bring some asexual representation to NYC Pride for both the British and the American aces out there. They say that there’s strength in numbers and knowledge is power, so I really believe that awareness and allyship between queer people in the UK and the US is essential. Our countries are practically siblings. We tend to mirror, influence and imitate each other, so we can learn from each other and stand together to combat this pearl-clutching moral panic that’s impacting us all.

Before You Go

Don’t forget, it’s our job to extend the sphere of influence for asexual folks. It’s our job to rally allies to support Yasmin’s work and research. If you’ve made it this far, follow her on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news. Consider writing to your representative about sexual rights in your area, and keep up with Yasmin to see her march at NYC Pride.