Lithsexual (also called Lithosexual, Akoisexual, Akoinesexual) is a sexual orientation for those who may experience sexual attraction but does not want it reciprocated. The person may be uncomfortable at the thought of someone being sexually attracted to them, or they may lose their sexual feelings if they learn it's reciprocated. As such, Lithsexuals do not feel compelled to seek out sex or a sexual relationship.
Lithsexual can be a sexual orientation on its own or can combined with other orientations. For example, one could be Lithsexual and Polysexual, meaning that when one does experience sexual attraction it's towards some but not all genders.
It is a sexual orientation on the Asexual Spectrum, and more broadly, the A-spectrum.
Contents
Alternate Names
- Akoinesexual
- Akoisexual
Pronounciation
- Lith-sex-shoo-al
- Lith-tho-sex-shoo-al
- Ah-coy-neh-sex-shoo-al
- Ah-coy-sex-shoo-al
Etymology
Lithos means "stone" in Greek.
Koine means "common/shared/relationship", also in Greek.
History
The Lith- prefix has been credited to Ian of Tumblr blog StopAnthropomorphizingMe for its partner (Lithromantic) and himself (Lithsexual).[1]
Due to a claim of appropriating Lesbian culture, some people have attempted to replace the term Lith with Akoine/Akoi, an alternate prefix coined by CisphobeOfficial on May 18, 2014.[2] This is due to the fact that Lithos, the word Lithromantic comes from, means "stone". In the lesbian community a stone lesbian is a lesbian who is okay with being the giver of sex acts, but not with being the receiver of sex acts. Because of that "lithsexual" could potentially be interpreted as being related to this term. Ian have talked about the claims and refuted it, explaining Lith- and stone are different, similar but not the same. How it is not appropriation when it's a new term that just draws on a similar one.[1]
| “ | But drawing on pre-established terminology when you create new terminology isn’t appropriative. It’s just linguistics. |
| — Ian of StopAnthropomorphizingMe, Tumblr May 2014 |
Ian also talked about how stones are not even all women and/or Lesbians, when historically transmasculine people and Lesbians have blurred the lines for decades.[3]
There has not been any consensus about the term, both in the A-spec and Lesbian community. There is no apparently evidence that the specific term "Lithsexual" or "Lithosexual" was ever commonly used by Lesbians. Currently Lithsexual, Lithosexual, and Akoisexual are used interchangeably.
Related Terms
See Also
Gallery
Flags
The red yellow Lith flag was created by Tumblr user TheJasmineElf around or before April 17, 2014. [4] The flag is shared between Lithsexual and Lithromantic. The color meanings are as follows: Red (#F14952) represents community, as it is traditionally a color of leadership, life, and sensitivity. Orange (#FF9E5E) represents Lith-ness, as it does on a version of the Aromantic flag. Yellow (#FFF546) represents varied relationships, also as it does on on the mentioned Aromantic flag, it also traditionally represents friendship, loyalty, and honor. White (#FFFFFF) represents romanticism and sexuality. Black (#2D2D2D) represents Aromanticism and Asexuality.
Another Lithsexual flag is one credited to Tumblr user TheGenderfluidLifeChoseMe, created at an unknown date.[5] While the actual date is unknown, an early record of the flag can be seen on the DeviantArt of user Pride-Flags, dating back to September 28, 2015.[6]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The coiner of Lith- explaining it was the coiner, and its opinion of the claim that the term is "Apropriating lesbian culture."
- ↑ The coining of Akoine
- ↑ Ian (StopAnthropomorphizingMe) and CisphobeOfficial
- ↑ The Lith flag by TheJasmineElf, Reblog of Boyfey-Archive-blog, Archived
- ↑ The Akoisexual flag credited to TheGenderfluidLifeChoseMe
- ↑ TheGenderfluidLifeChoseMe's Akoisexual/Lithsexual flag on Pride-Flags DeviantArt