Encephalosexual

Encephalosexual, also known as encephalsexual or enciesexual, is an identity on the asexual spectrum in which one does not experience sexual attraction until an intellectual bond is formed, or until one experiences mental attraction. An intellectual bond is related to sharing of wisdom, knowledge, hobbies, aspirations, and interests. One can only experience sexual attraction to those whom they intellectually bond with and/or experience mental attraction to. However, this does not mean one will be sexually attracted to everyone they intellectually bond with/experience mental attraction to. It just opens it up as a possibility.

This is not "sexual attraction to smart individuals," nor is it a sexuality which one can use to gatekeep intelligence. It is only to be used in the context of mental attraction and close intellectual bonds. For example, one who loves music, or knowledge relating to it, may experience attraction to those that they can talk about music with.

Encephalosexuality can be used as an identity on its own, or can be used alongside another identity (examples: pan-encephalosexual, encephalosexual bisexual, omni encephalosexual).

Encephalosexual is a subset of mesi asexual, aliquasexual, demisexual, and apressexual.

The romantic equivalent is encephaloromantic.

History
Encephalosexual was coined by an anonymous wiki user on October 22, 2020. It was coined as an alternative to sapiosexual, which has classist, ableist, problematic, and controversial connotations due to its history.

Rather than focusing on things like IQ or academic intelligence, encephalosexuality is based on sharing of interests, knowledge, and other similar things one can bond over intellectually.

Etymology
Encephalo- or encephal- means "relating to the brain." Since intellectual bonds over hobbies, interest, knowledge, etc. are related to the brain/mind, encephalosexual worked as an appropriate label. This term was almost called cerebrosexual or neurosexual, but those terms were already in use for different identities/concepts.

Encie was coined on October 23, 2020. It has no meaning, aside from being a shortened version of encephal-. It's meant to be easier to say and remember.

Flag
The encephalosexual flag was created by an anonymous wiki user on October 22, 2020. Orange represents creativity. White represents wisdom and spirituality. Blue represents mental attraction and intellectual bonding. Purple represents the asexual spectrum.