What's Going On: February 2020
Written by the AUREA Team
Word count: 915
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Are you online?
February is here and with it - Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week! The week begins on the 17th, but there’s no need to wait, the fun has already begun.
For ASAW, Aromantic Official has put together a hashtag or two and a fun list of prompts for you to play with. To contribute - and contribute however you wish: drawing, writing, whatever you imagine - the hashtags are #ArosAndArrows for February 16-18 and #BeingAromanticIs for February 19-22. No matter what platform you’re on, Aromantic Official is ready for you!
AroWriMo is well underway and will continue until the end of the month. For all you writers out there, no matter the kind, dive into the list of prompts for some inspiration. There’s often talk of how little aromantic content there is out in the world and how we’d like to see that change. Here’s your change to get some original content out into the world with an event to share it around.
Coming this Monday and every Monday to follow is Aro Movies Monday. Aggressively Arospec, known for their Aro Tunes Thursday, have decided to expand their horizons once again. This project is an opportunity to share movies and TV shows that make you feel recognised. Or, as it needs to be said, warn others away from some truly uncomfortable content. Whatever it is you wish to talk about, Aggressively Arospec will be adding it to their archive. Check out what they’ve got so far, then why not sit back and enjoy a show.
The Great Ace Digital Book Box, on their mission to build compassion, is guiding focus to retelling love stories. Each month this group hooks their readers up with a chosen book and fun begins! If you’re looking to read a nice book for ASAW, these are the people who can make that happen.
Coinciding with ASAW is the Arospec Fanworks Week. They’re offering a whole range of prompts to inspire your fan content and have put together a collection on Archive of Our Own to make the work easily accessible. Do you have a favourite aro character or a headcanon that needs exploring?
As always Carnival of Aros brought about some interesting discussion. Neir posted eir round-up of all things ‘New’ and each piece is full of new and thoughtful ideas. As for the month, we are happy to announce that we’re hosting! Our topic of choice is ‘Variation vs. Unity’. Have a read through our list of prompts or follow that first thought that popped into your head! We’d love to hear from you.
Here at AUREA we will be keeping to our usual schedule of two articles posted on the third Friday of the month despite the overlap with ASAW. And this time you can get involved! We’re putting together a collection of aro narratives that focus on how we view the future. If we intend to stray from the romance of marriage and children, just what do aros imagine their futures to be like? If you’d like to tell us your plans and join the collection, submit an entry here.
Out and about?
Calgary Aces & Aros will be celebrating Aro Awareness Week 2020 with a brunch on the 16th of February. RSVP at yycaroaces@gmail.com.
On the 12th of February, the Western Aces and Aros of Washington, WA, are holding an ASAW Celebration. For more information, contact them at thewesternaces@gmail.com.
PinkNews is working on a video about aromanticism and is looking for aros to interview. If you’re in the London area and interested in participating contact via email for more information: scarlet@pinknews.co.uk.
Are you hosting an ASAW event? Reach out at contact@aromanticism.org and we’ll add it to our calendar!
Aros in the media
Podcast Sex with Strangers has tackled the ever interesting topic of what sex is like for aromantics and asexuals. Chris Sowa chats with a variety of a-sceps, including Dr. Pragati Singh, founder of Indian Aces, writer, activist and former sex worker Kitty Stryker, and author and activist Sandra Bellamy. By all accounts everyone had a fun and informative time recording this, give it a listen and you might find the same.
Somdyuti Datta Ray is looking to speak to aromantics and/or asexuals on the topic of Valentine’s Day. This freelance journalist wants a selection of people to interview and welcomes anonymity. DM her @hellodyuti on Twitter or email her at somdyutidattaray@gmail.com.
Jessica Victoria is after an aromantic for an interview. She writes about a range of topics on her blog from politics to the personal (and where they overlap). If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming piece of her’s contact her at @itsJessVictoria on Twitter or via email on her blog.
Check out this comic on quoiromanticism by islandgirlcomics. Discovery is an anecdotal story about the journey the creator has been on to find herself. With beautiful art that wonderfully conveys emotion, you’d be missing if you didn’t at least take a peek.