Asexual Awareness Week 2024: Our Fave Ace Characters From The Last 12 Months
Despite the fact that there is forward momentum regarding asexual representation in public and media spaces, asexuality as an identity is still rarely discussed in constructive, positive ways. According to the Stonewall Ace in the UK Report published in 2023, asexual people report lower satisfaction with their lives than other LGBTQ+ people due to feeling less comfortable and less inclined to disclose their identity to the people around them. Well, it’s that time again! It’s Asexual Awareness Week 2024 right now and it’s high time that we, as a community, recognize that for some of us, not everything is about sex, love, and romance. We’re spotlighting our fave ace characters on screen from the last twelve months.
Over the last year, several beloved on-screen characters in the television industry have confirmed their asexual status spotlighting the identity and confirming its presence within the LGBTQ community. These characters were loved before they came out as ace, and they’re still loved – maybe even more so – now that they’ve confirmed our suspicions. We all know that representation is the key to changing hearts and minds, as well as educating others, so we’re celebrating these fave ace characters in this Asexual Awareness Week 2024 and showering them with some well-deserved love!
Issac From Heartstopper
Isaac from Heartstopper, played by Tobie Donovan, is a crowd favorite in spotlighting asexual representation. Heartstopper is three seasons deep now, and at the time of writing, fans around the globe are anxiously awaiting news about a possible fourth season. In the first season, very little was revealed about Isaac’s sexual identity. He was positioned as the reliable, funny bestie for Charlie (Joe Locke) and he slotted into his support role fantastically.
But in season two, as all of his friends begin coupling up and settling into romantic relationships, Isaac feels uneasy. He tries dating James (Bradley Riches) only to realize that the connection he feels with the boy isn’t romantic or sexual at all. Although the words aren’t strictly used, at the end of the season, viewers are treated to a scene where Isaac picks up a variety of literature on the topic of asexuality, laying the groundwork for solidifying this sexual identity for the Heartstopper fandom.
Then, by season 3, Isaac is actually using the term aro/ace to describe himself. What this means is that Isaac doesn’t experience sexual or romantic attraction, so a relationship of that nature isn’t in the cards for him. The juxtaposition of Isaac’s asexual identity against the very sexually and romantically charged identities and relationships surrounding him serves as a reminder that there is a dominant discourse regarding sex that often makes it difficult for asexual people to come out. But, because this is Heartstopper, Isaac’s friends accept his announcement with nothing but love and support – which really, is how it should be. This is why Isaac and his place in the Heartstopper world is why he’s one of our fave ace characters right now.
Does this mean that Isaac will remain single for his entire life? That’s unclear. However, it is possible for asexual/aromantic people to couple up and have a lasting relationship – if they decide that’s what they want for themselves. It’s important to remember that asexuality isn’t a life sentence of singledom. It just means the rules are a little different in ace spaces.
Ca$h from Heartbreak High
When Heartbreak High first aired in 2022, Ca$h (Will McDonald) quickly became a crowd favorite. On the surface, he’s a bad boy – an Eshay, if you will – and definitely goes around with the wrong crowd. He’s served time in juvenile detention and is in desperate need of a life overhaul. At the start of season 1, it’s not super clear that Ca$h is also queer. However, as the season develops it becomes obvious that he’s absolutely nuts about Darren (James Majoos).
As Ca$h and Darren start spending time together, Ca$h’s reluctance to engage in hot and heavy sexy time gets in the way of their relationship. In season 1, the word asexual is never uttered by Ca$h himself, but it’s obvious that the groundwork is being laid for Ca$h to step into this identity at some point.
And he does, in season 2. The interesting thing about Ca$h’s journey though, is that Ca$h’s acceptance of his asexuality doesn’t end his relationship with Darren, who is a very sexual person and is someone who needs sex in their intimate relationships. Their lack of sexual compatibility does cause quite a few hiccups for the pair, but our favorite thing about this coupling is that, as season 2 comes to a close, it’s clear they’re not willing to give up on their relationship. They love each other, and they want to try and make it work. Whether this will be possible remains to be seen in the next season, but we’re (not so) patiently waiting to see what the writers do with this couple.
Unlike Isaac from Heartstopper Ca$h is clearly an asexual person who enjoys romance. In fact, he craves romance with Darren. And as the second season reveals, he’s not sex averse (he and Darren do have a sexual encounter that goes very well for them both) but he explains later when Darren tries to replicate the experience that he’s not comfortable doing that all the time. The asexual representation available in Ca$h’s character is nuanced and complex and doesn’t really fit a cookie-cutter definition. We celebrate this because many asexual people exist like Ca$h. His sexual identity is unable to be reduced to a definition that is clean and comfortable for everyone, and we are here for this kind of authenticity. From the moment we met Ca$h, he was one of our fave onscreen characters, but these complexities about him are what has positioned him as one of our fave ace characters – maybe ever!
“O” from Sex Education
If you haven’t watched Sex Education what are you even doing with your life? In the fourth and final season, the writers introduced an asexual character, who was received with mixed reviews from Sex Education enthusiasts. O (Thaddea Graham) is introduced as a rival at the gang’s new high school for Otis (Asa Butterfield) as he tries to reprise his role as the student body’s sex therapist.
O – female and Asian – presents a diverse option to the student body, and her popularity among their classmates sends Otis spiraling. Otis, desperate to get his status back as the fave among his peers, delivers a low blow and reveals to the student body that, despite her advice on how to conduct oneself in a relationship, O has a history of ghosting her partners. It’s in that moment that O feels compelled to out herself as asexual, citing her fear of rejection from those around her once her sexual identity was revealed, as the reason for all the ghosting.
This is why O is one of our fave ace characters of late – she’s a realistic representation of all the hiding ace people often do to protect themselves. She was just too afraid to come out and live her true authentic self. While a lot of people criticized the ace representation in O’s character, stating that they believe that her character feeds the stereotype that all ace people are cold and unfeeling (which is just not true), we challenge y’all to look at the situation through a different lens. O isn’t cold and unfeeling, and she is clearly seeking connection and a relationship of some kind, but it is her fear that leads her to make these poor choices, and as a result, she ends up treating people around her badly.
It’s no secret that the asexual label is among the most misunderstood of all the queer identities. Even within queer spaces, the asexual community is often shunned and othered for its lack of connection to sexual spaces. The fear that controls this character demonstrates how damaging the closet can be – regardless of what kind of queer identity one claims.
Whether you realize it or not, you probably know an asexual person. Still unsure about the nuances of this valid sexual identity? In this Asexual Awareness Week 2024 do yourself a favor and read something, watch something, or talk to someone and get educated. Asexual people are queer and deserve the same respect and recognition as everyone else.
Who’s your fave ace character from the last 12 months? Share it with us in our socials and let’s keep celebrating all asexual folks!
Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Courtesy of Netflix
