At Stonewall, we stand for all lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning, and ace (LGBTQ+) people.
We know that ace people face specific barriers in their workplace, many of which are highlighted in Stonewall's Ace Report (2023). To support workplaces on their ace inclusion journey, we have developed Ace Inclusion in the Workplace bitesized guides and an Ace Hub. Our resource will provide actionable steps for Line Managers, HR employees, and Diversity and Inclusion staff to help you address potential barriers to ace inclusion within your organisation. Join us in creating a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be.
What is Asexuality?
Asexual refers to a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. ‘Ace’ is an umbrella term used to describe a wider group of people who experience little, fluctuating or no sexual attraction. Aromantic refers to a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction. Asexual people may or may not experience romantic attraction. Those who experience romantic attraction might also use terms such as gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer in conjunction with asexual. For more detail on terminology, see our Stonewall Ace Report (2023).
What does the law say?
Asexual people are not explicitly recognised under the Equality Act – there is no recognition of a ‘lack of’ sexual orientation under that protected characteristic (for comparison, the Equality Act both protects people on the basis of their religious beliefs and a ‘lack of’ religious beliefs).