Emma Flint, a freelance journalist, opens up about her experience as an abrosexual person. When she came out to a close friend in 2020, the response was dismissive: 'When did you decide this? Is this even a label?' Those hurtful words ended their friendship.
What Is Abrosexuality?
Abrosexuality describes a sexual identity that fluctuates and changes over time. For Emma, this meant feeling like a lesbian one day and bisexual the next. Growing up in the 1990s, she never heard the term; society only recognized straight, gay, or lesbian identities.
Discovering Her Identity
At age 30, Emma learned about abrosexuality through Zoe Stoller, an LGBTQ+ educator on Instagram. It was a revelation. 'Finally, I feel seen,' she says. Before that, she felt lost and fraudulent, constantly changing how she identified.
Not everyone has been supportive. Some people demand she 'pick a lane,' while others suggest she's confused or just following a trend. Emma stresses that questions are fine as long as they're respectful. 'Just because you don't understand an identity doesn't make it less authentic.'
Impact on Relationships
Being abrosexual doesn't affect her romantic relationships. 'I love the person, not their gender,' she explains. Her sexuality may fluctuate, but her commitment remains steady.
Emma hopes that education will lead to greater acceptance. 'We're all learning new things about ourselves,' she says. 'Acceptance can only come from stepping outside your comfort zone.' She credits Stoller for helping her understand herself and urges others to explore LGBTQ+ resources.
Now, Emma embraces her fluid identity without fear. 'It makes sense to me, and that's all that really matters.'
