[[File:A-spec.svg|thumb|220x220px|The main a-spec flag.|alt=A flag with four colored rectangles. The top-right is dark green, the top left is black, the bottom right is gray, the bottom left is purple. There is a white star in the middle. ]]
[[File:Aspec.png|thumb|The original aloe vera a-spec flag.|220x220px180x180px]]
[[File:A spec flag.png|thumb|219x219px180x180px|The redesigned aloe vera flag.]]
[[File:Aroace aspec flag.jpg|alt=|thumb|AThe striped A-Spec flag |217x217px180x180px]]
'''A-spec''' (or '''A-spectrum''') is an umbrella term for all identities on the [[Asexual Spectrum|asexual spectrum]] and [[Aromantic Spectrum|aromantic spectrum]]. ItA-spec can bedescribe usedan forindividual anyonewho is on the asexual spectrum, the aromantic spectrum, or both.
This termA-spec is also sometimes used more broadly to include other identities that use the "a-" prefix, such as [[agender]] and [[aplatonic]].<ref>{{Archive|URL=2020.08.09-195810/https://asafetynet.tumblr.com/post/112827135411/a-spectrum-safety-net}}</ref> [[Aroace Agender|aroaceAroace agender]] is sometimes referred to as AAA-spec (pronounced "triple-A-spec").
== Controversy ==
Aces[[Asexual]] and aros[[aromantic]] individuals have sometimes been accused of appropriating the term "a-spec" from the autistic community. This is impossibleHowever, as the term was created in 2015 specifically for aces and aros and has no prior usage history before that point.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2018.04.14-072616/http://historicallyace.tumblr.com/post/161502315942/do-you-per-chance-know-when-asexuals-first}}</ref><ref>{{Archive|URL=2022.02.03-130600/https://apersnicketylemon.tumblr.com/post/189192893072/aspec-does-not-and-has-never-meant-autism}}</ref>
WithWithin the aceasexual and aroaromantic communities, use of the term "a-spec" has also been criticized for introducing confusion through frequent misuse, particularly regarding asexuals using "a-spec" when only asexual spectrum (ace-spec) individuals are relevant, or through saying "a-spec and aro-spec", implying that aro-specthe aromantic spectrum is not inherently included under the a-spec umbrella. Unfortunately, for some individuals, "a-spec" and "ace-spec" are phonetically indistinguishable when spoken aloud.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2022.02.03-130945/https://shades-of-grayro.tumblr.com/post/190426507065/again-im-not-critiquing-the-usefulness-of-a-word}}</ref>
== History ==
The a-spec flag was created by Tumblr user The-Moon-Is-Aroace on March 25, 2019.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2022.02.04-122940/https://the-moon-is-aroace.tumblr.com/post/183702972387/a-new-flag-for-the-aspec-community-just-an-idea-i}}</ref> The compass rose in the middle is a symbol of how individuals all experience attraction in different ways, if at all. The green and purple are on opposite sides of the quadrant to show that [[Asexual|asexuality]] and [[Aromantic|aromanticism]] are their own separate and independent identities, with the black and grey quadrants connecting them. Black represents the [[aroace]] community and grey represents grey communities.
The aloe vera a-spec flag was designed by Tumblr users Sapphic-Squirrel and Hetaces with help from the Inclusionist Discord Server and was posted on November 17, 2019.<ref>{{Archive|URL=2021.12.07-223350/https://sapphic-squirrel.tumblr.com/post/189130109062/hello-everyone-i-want-to-present-a-community-flag}}</ref> It was designed to mimic the [[sapphic]], [[achillean]], [[diamoric]], and [[pluralian]] flags with three stripes and one plant. The green is for aromantics, the purple for asexuals, and grey is for the grey area between a- identities and [[Allosexual|allo-]] identities (which would represent [[Greyasexual|greyasexuals]], [[Greyromantic|greyromantics]], [[Demisexual|demisexuals]], [[Demiromantic|demiromantics]], other [[Mesi Aromantic|mesi aros]], [[Mesi Asexual|mesi aces]], [[Split Attraction Model (SAM)|split attraction]] users, andincluding those that don't have solid labels but know they are somewhere under the umbrellas of asexual or aromantic.).
The aloe vera flag was redesigned by RavenFire803 on July 1th, 2021 to represent the larger community. The aloe symbol was made to be both green and purple instead of just green to show balance.
|