Allo (orientation)

Allo is an orientation prefix used as an umbrella term for individuals who experience attraction. Derived from the Greek word meaning “other” or “different,” allo- was created as a counterpart to a- in asexual, providing a simple and inclusive way to describe non-asexual individuals. It encompasses those who regularly experience sexual, romantic, or other forms of attraction. Over time, allo- became widely accepted in discussions about sexuality.

The prefix serves as tools for distinguishing between individuals on the A-spec (asexual spectrum) and those who experience more consistent forms of attraction.

Carlos always felt a little confused when hearing his asexual friends talk about their experiences. He deeply respected their identities but didn’t understand why they felt a need to differentiate themselves with specific terms. One evening, during a discussion at his LGBTQ+ book club, someone introduced the concept of allo. “It’s the word for people who regularly experience attraction; basically the opposite of asexual,” they explained.

Carlos found the term fascinating. “So, I’m allo?” he asked. His friends nodded. At first, the label felt unnecessary; Carlos had never thought of himself as needing a term for what he assumed was “the norm.” But as he learned more, he realized how important it was for his asexual friends to have language that reflected their experiences. Using the word allo helped distinguish their perspectives while validating everyone’s identity.

Over time, Carlos grew to appreciate how allo made conversations about attraction more inclusive. “It’s not about creating unnecessary labels,” he shared with his friend Sofia, “but about making space for all kinds of experiences. Knowing I’m allo helps me better understand myself and others.” By embracing the term, Carlos became more empathetic and supportive of his community, recognizing that even everyday experiences like attraction can benefit from thoughtful language.

Allo- is the dominant term, but Z- offers a softer, less clinical option, particularly in spaces that seek more creative or less medicalized language

Allo orientations

• Alloromantic
• Allosexual

History of the Term Allosexual

In 2002, non-asexual individuals were first referred to as “sexuals.” However, this term was considered overly vague and lacked a definitive meaning. It was also seen as potentially derogatory to describe individuals solely based on their sexual nature. Starting in 2011, there were numerous attempts to create a better-fitting term. Many of these attempts failed due to issues with pronunciation, ambiguous meanings, or problematic associations. Below is an overview of the proposed terms and their associated issues.

Proposed Terms and Issues

• Adsexual
  This was rejected because it appeared to be a misspelling of “asexual.”
• Albosexual
  The prefix albo- means “white” and was used to represent a black-and-white dichotomy. This invoked unintended racial connotations unrelated to the concept of sexuality.
• Alisexual
  The prefix ali- means “other” or “different,” but it sounded too similar to “ally” or “allsexual.” While allo- has the same meaning, it was initially deemed too clinical due to its origins in sexology.
• Clarisexual
  This term referenced clarity, which excluded individuals who were unsure of their sexuality. It also dismissed asexual individuals who were confident in their lack of sexual attraction.
• Consexual
  The prefix con- means “with” or “together.” While the intention was to convey “with,” the alternate meaning of “together” suggested a complete or unified sexual experience. Additionally, this term was already used to describe consensual intercourse.
• Demosexual
  The prefix demo- means “people” and was meant to represent general attraction to others. However, its similarity to “demisexual” caused confusion.
• Non-asexual
  This literal term described non-asexual individuals but inadvertently included greysexual and demisexual individuals, who are often considered part of the asexual spectrum.
• Poikkisexual
  Derived from the Finnish prefix poikki- meaning “cross” or “transverse,” this term was problematic because “poke” is English slang for intercourse.
• Sekasexual
  This term used the Finnish prefix seka- meaning “mixed.” However, it did not gain significant traction.
• Verisexual
  The prefix ver- means “true.” Unfortunately, this sounded too much like “very sexual” and implied hypersexuality, which was not the intended meaning.
• Zsexual
  The letter z was used as a metaphorical opposite to a for asexual. While it avoided major controversies, it did not achieve the same level of recognition as “allosexual.” Pronunciation issues also arose, with variations like “zesexual” or “zedsexual.”

The Chosen Term: Allosexual

Despite early criticism, allosexual is now the most widely recognized term. It is considered the least problematic option and has become familiar in communities and academic literature.

Related Terms

• Aspec
  Refers to individuals on the asexual spectrum who experience no attraction. In contrast, allosexual individuals experience sexual attraction.
• Greysexual
  Describes individuals who experience attraction infrequently, unlike allosexuals, who experience it more regularly or consistently.

Orientations Within the Allosexual Spectrum

• Alloace / Alloroace / Alloromantic Asexual
  Individuals who are both on the asexual spectrum (ace) and experience alloromantic attraction.
• Aroallo / Alloaro / Allosexual Aromantic
  Individuals who are both on the aromantic spectrum (aro) and experience sexual attraction.
• Alloromish / Alloromanticish
  Refers to individuals whose romantic experiences align closely with alloromantic attraction or those uncomfortable using the term “alloromantic” despite experiencing similar attractions.

Flag

The general allosexual flag was created by Tumblr user Fy (beyond-mogai-pride-flags) on August 30, 2018.

Sources

1. “allo-“. Wiktionary, Link. Accessed February 20, 2023.
2. HistoricallyAce. “A HISTORY OF WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ASEXUAL”. Tumblr, August 18, 2016, Link.
3. Aceadmiral. “Anonymous asked:”. Tumblr, November 3, 2011, Link.
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5. Redbeardace. “Aceadmiral:”. Tumblr, October 31, 2011, Link.
6. Burleson, Mary H., Trevathan, Wenda R., Gregory, W. Larry. “Sexual behavior in lesbian and heterosexual women: relations with menstrual cycle phase and partner availability”. PubMed, May 27, 2002, Link.
7. Siggy. “Why I use ‘allosexual'”. Asexual Agenda, September 12, 2012, Link.
8. P epochryphal. “Re: Calling people off the ace spectrum ‘sexuals’ and/or ‘non-aces’… okay? Or hypocritical?”. Demi Grace, September 22, 2011, Link.
9. Asexuals Anonymous. “Anonymous asked:”. Tumblr, January 19, 2015, Link.
10. Sexual Assault SupportServices. “Consexual”. Urban Dictionary, August 10, 2009, Link.
11. Purplemutant. “Labels”. The AVEN, June 30, 2013, Link.
12. Greenchestnuts. “I Would Like A Bath Tub, Sir, A Bath Tub Of Tea!: Wait wait. There is a problem with ‘non-asexual’ as a replacement for ‘sexual’. »”. Tumblr, 2012, Link.
13. Aceadmiral. “More suggestions to replace OTJ”. Tumblr, October 31, 2011, Link.
14. Asexualadvice. “Anonymous asked:”. Tumblr, September 14, 2013, Link.
15. Greenchestnuts. “More Words!”. Tumblr, 2012, Link.
16. Writingfromfactorx. “That’s What She Said: On the asexual community and frustrations over the name game”. Tumblr, 2012, Link.
17. Beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Allo- Flags”. Tumblr, August 30, 2018, Link.
18. Varioriented-pride. “Alloromantic Asexual Pride Flag”. Tumblr, March 1, 2019, Link.
19. X-icarus-x. “Alloromish/Allorom-ish!”. Tumblr, March 14, 2023, Link.
20. Trailerparkk. “So I tried to make my own redesign of @varioriented-pride’s AlloAce flag”. Tumblr, August 17, 2020, Link.
21. Flagify. “Alloace flag”. Tumblr, July 25, 2020, Link.

Source

https://new.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/allo_%28orientation%29