Learn more about how to celebrate asexual people right now
BY KATIE TRAHAIR-DAVIES, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES
What is Ace Week?
Ace Week, otherwise known as Asexual Awareness Week, is “an international campaign dedicated to raising awareness and expanding education of asexuality”.
Running from 19 to 25 October 2025, Ace Week is an annual campaign that aims to create positive change for the asexual community, as well as foster awareness in the general population.
How did Ace Week begin?
Established in 2010, Asexual Awareness Week was initially created with the intention of being “an awareness campaign that primarily targeted LGBTQ+ communities and their leadership”. Although founded by one woman, Sara Beth Brooks, the week has since gradually expanded and is now celebrated by communities globally.
What does Ace Week involve?
Aceweek.org, the official website for the celebration, writes that: “each year has taken on its own unique flavour and adopted slightly different projects, but spreading educational materials, organising community events, and discussing ace experiences have always remained at its core.”
During the week, an Annual Ace Community Census takes place, as well as a range of conferences around the world.
What is Asexuality?
Asexuality is often defined as someone who experiences little to no sexual attraction and/ or sexual desire. It is an umbrella term, meaning that anyone’s lived experience exists on a spectrum of desires and needs.
According to the 2021 UK census, 28,000 people in England and Wales identify as asexual, which amounts to 0.06 per cent of the population. Therefore, support and representation are needed for this small but mighty community.
Sarah Sharp, speaking to DIVA in a previous interview, said: “Being in supportive environments, around affirming people, has been shown to improve LGBTQIA people’s mental health and wellbeing. Now, due to the increasing understanding and visibility of asexuality, more people than ever are identifying with this label and using it to find community.”
How to support Ace Week
It is essential to learn more about the history of Ace Week and its objectives, as well as the campaigns it aims to achieve. To do so, a good place to start is on Ace Week’s history explainer.
Stonewall’s Ace Hub has an even wider pool of resources to explore and self-educate with. This includes stories of lived experiences growing up ace in society and how to be an ally, as well as information on different campaigns and Stonewall’s Ace In The UK report.
Many communities and celebrations for the week can be found online; however, if possible, it is important to show support in real life as well. Ace Week’s website has a handy page that tracks events that can be attended all across the world. Visit here.
Asexual representation is also growing onscreen and in mainstream culture. By watching these shows, you can findshared stories of ace people in the modern world.
Finally, it is crucial that whilst this is an important week to celebrate, advocacy and allyship must continue year-round.
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