Today it's Aromantic Visibility Day and we have asked Elin Westöö from Christian Wainbow Movement - EKHO in Sweden to write a reflection:

I was 37 years old when I learnt about aromanticism. I knew instantly: “This is me!” I’ve spent my whole life wondering why I’m so different from everyone else. Now I knew I wasn’t alone.

Aromantic is part of LGBTQIA+. Both asexual and aromantic people are often invisible in our society, but even if the A is included aromantic tends to stay forgotten.

Being aromantic is about not feeling romantic attraction or romantic love to any gender. It’s a spectrum and for example grey-romantics can experience it very few times in their lives. Many aromantic people feel bad about themselves, afraid of being broken somehow.

Aromantics are full of emotions and there are so many kinds of relationships that can give meaningfulness in your life: family, friends, platonic partners, etc. But the norm of a monogamous romantic relationship being the central goal for every human is so strong. It’s easy for aromantic people to feel isolated and depressed about their future.

A few years ago I participated in a digital meeting for aromantic people from many European countries. Many of them were young and almost everyone shared the same experience: They longed for community but were afraid of going to LGBTQ groups in their hometowns because they didn’t know if aromantic people were welcome and were afraid of being met by ignorance and being questioned. That broke my heart. But we can work together and do something about it!

I hope the LGBTQIA+ groups within the European Forum will learn about both asexuality & aromanticism. So that more queer people can know that they are welcome, a precious part of the LGBTQIA+ community and that they will learn that they are loved by God and created in Their image just like everyone else.

God, I pray for every aromantic person. That they’ll learn there’s nothing wrong with them, that they’re loved by You just the way they are. I pray that they’ll be able to find a community where they feel they belong. I pray that they’ll find hope for their future. Amen!