OutCasting Episodes 29 and 30 — Asexuality

OutCasting #29 — Dante's first person account

OutCasting #30 — Dante interviews Professor Anthony Bogaert

These linked episodes present a look at asexuality as seen though the eyes of an asexual teenager and from an expert's perspective. 

In Episode 29, OutCaster Dante gives a riveting account about his growing awareness of feeling different in middle school, the depression that followed as he realized that a key part of himself seemed to be missing while all of his friends were reacting to each other in strange new ways that made little sense to him, his discovery of AVEN (Asexuality Visibility & Education Network), an online community for asexual people, his acceptance of himself as healthy and the happiness that acceptance brought him, and his experiences in coming out as asexual to others.  This powerful episode is a must for people who want to know more about asexuality and the feelings of being different, no matter what the cause.

In Episode 30, Dante talks with Professor Anthony Bogaert of Brock University in St. Catherine's, Ontario.  Professor Bogaert (pronounced Bogart) focuses on the study of human sexuality and is an expert on asexuality.  In 2012, he published the book Understanding Asexuality.  If you're interested in reading the book, we encourage you to patronize your local bookstores and libraries.

In these episodes, we learn that asexuality is an orientation just like being gay or straight or bisexual, and that it is different from celibacy, which is a choice not to engage in sexual behavior.  We learn that sexual attraction and romantic attraction, which many people think are the same thing, are actually two distinct types of attraction, that asexuality doesn't necessarily mean a lack of libido, and that some asexual people experience romantic attractions and enter into relationships that can be extremely fulfilling.  Fascinating and powerful, these episodes dispel many of the myths and assumptions made about asexuality.  We hope you enjoy them.

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• Next episode: NYC OutCaster Elliot talks about growing up bisexual and transgender