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(A)sexual

Directed by Angela Tucker2011USA75 mins

Hold the skepticism — the smart and funny group of people profiled in this fast-moving documentary have heard it all before. Meet Swank Ivy who makes YouTube videos debunking common beliefs about asexuals; or David Jay, the movement’s poster boy, and a regular on television talk shows. The ladies of The View can barely conceal their disbelief as young and cute Jay describes his lack of desire — for anyone. _(A)sexual _documents the growth of this newly organized sexual minority while raising provocative questions about queer inclusiveness and the boundaries of “normal” sexual desire.

The community is powered by the internet and modeled on the gay rights movement. In 2002, Jay created a website, asexuality.org, so he could find others like himself. Today, there are some 26,000 members of AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network). Members discuss coming out as an asexual, their struggles for acceptance, and the various subgroups within the community (to cuddle or not to cuddle?). The endless parallels to queer experiences will make your head spin.

Along with David Jay and other members of the asexual community, the film features academic researchers who speculate that there are over three million asexuals in the US. Sexperts Carol Queen and Dan Savage weigh in on the fledgling asexual movement and its place in queerdom. Does the LGBT community have room for another letter? And is it possible that in today’s sexualized society, lack of desire is perversion’s final frontier?

Expected Guests

Angela Tucker
Director
David Jay
Subject
Quick links
Director
Angela Tucker
Year
2011
Country
USA
Running Time
75 mins
Language
English
Premiere
World
Section
Documentaries
Program Note Writer
Monica Nolan
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