ABSTRACT
Many ace people are searching for acceptance, particularly by the greater LGBTQ+ community. They are often dehumanized by allosexuals, compared to plants or amoebas, or told that “sex is a fundamental human need.” They are also denied access to queer spaces, allegedly because they have not faced oppression and do not have anything in common with other LGBTQ+ individuals. Without access to these communities, asexuals do not have the social networks, educational and political resources, and emotional support vital to surviving in a queerphobic society. However, many ace people try to gain acceptance by assimilating into queer spaces, often by using the very tactics that have harmed them. In doing so, the authors of this manifesto suggest they are engaging in respectability politics that hurt some of the most marginalized members of their community.