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asexual

FOR READERS: Aces High

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ace - pixabay

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer K. S. Madden: Hi Scott, after reading a lot of the recent responses, I’d love to see you do a question post sometime about the surge in interest in seeing more asexual characters. I was at Readercon in Boston a few months ago and there was a panel there as well stating the need for more asexual protagonists in mainstream scifi/fantasy. I’m curious what people want to see. Asexual characters in romantic relationships? Or asexual characters just having adventures and being free of relationships? Or is this partly a desire to see … Read more

TV: Finally, Non Binary and Asexual Characters!

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TV Asexual Characters

GLAAD are finally able to count non-binary and asexual characters on television. The LGBTI organization have just released their yearly Where We Are on TV Report. The report analyzes the diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks. It also looks at the number of LGBTI characters on cable networks and streaming services for 2017-2018. 6.4 percent of regular characters in the upcoming year are expected to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or queer. This is the highest percentage GLAAD has ever seen. There are going to be 17 regular and recurring trans characters across cable, broadcasting and streaming … Read more

SCIENCE: Asexual Worm Species Has Survived for 18 Million years

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worm - pixabay

A species of asexual translucent worm has been discovered by scientists. Diploscapter pachys hasn’t had sex in roughly 18 million years, when it parted from its parent species, by exclusively practicing asexual reproduction. The species has survived for the entire time by copying itself, while still maintaining fairly high genetic diversity. The revelation has taken scientists by surprise – with asexual species usually dying out due to genetic mutations. Biologist David Fitch of New York University said: “It has been a longstanding mystery in biology how some asexual animals have survived for so many generations. By Benjamin Butterworth – Full … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Golden, by R.L. Mosswood

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Golden

QSFer R.L. Mosswood has a new MM Fantasy book out: Harem boy might not be the most appropriate role for someone who’s never really seen the appeal of sex, but Elin’s status as dahabi: golden in a land of tan and brown, has marked him for The Dragon’s service since birth. He’s content enough with his life of uncomplicated, if restrictive, luxury, until an unremarkable chore becomes a case of love at first sight. Mysterious newcomer Hathar, a roguish “merchant adventurer” from far-off lands, ignites an exploration of Elin’s first taste of physical desire, as well as a desire to … Read more

Bojack Horseman Character Comes Out As Asexual

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Bojack Horseman - Todd - Asexual

BoJack Horseman has featured a character coming out as asexual, and with it sees the best asexual representation on TV. Todd Chavez, played by Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, was asked by his girlfriend at the end of season 3 if he was gay after they didn’t have sex. ‘I think I’m nothing,’ was his response. Season 4 sees Todd officially come out as asexual and accept he feels no sexual attraction. By Joe Morgan – Full Story at Gay Star News

SCIENCE: Shark Reproduces Asexually

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zebra_shark

Chalk it up to 2016. For the first known time, a shark has reproduced asexually after having previously produced offspring through mating. A zebra shark in an Australian aquarium has been reported to have made the switch in April of last year. The proud and apparently determined mother, Leonie, delivered three pups, Cleo, CC and Gemini, at the Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Queensland. She had previously had a male partner from 2006 through 2012, birthing 20 pups, until aquarium staff had trouble keeping up with the number of young she was having. But she had apparently not let that separation cramp her … Read more

Jughead is No Longer Ace in TV Version of Riverdale

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Cole_Sprouse_as_Jughead_in_Riverdale

Jughead, best friend of the title character in Archie Comics, officially came out as asexual in “Jughead No. 4” last year, but in the CW reboot “Riverdale” his sexuality will be straight. Cole Sprouse, 24, portrays Jughead in the upcoming series and told Hollywood Life his character is no longer asexual. “Jughead will have romances with women … and burgers, but at the end of the day, I still had to do my job,” Sprouse says. However, the actor says he will be “fighting for this pretty heavily.” “Asexuality is not one of those things in my research that is … Read more

FOR READERS: Aces High

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Asexual Ace Flag

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer K.S. Madden: After reading a lot of the recent responses, I’d love to see you do a question post sometime about the surge in interest in seeing more asexual characters. I was at Readercon in Boston a few months ago and there was a panel there as well stating the need for more asexual protagonists in mainstream scifi/fantasy. I’m curious what people want to see. Asexual characters in romantic relationships? Or asexual characters just having adventures and being free of relationships? Or is this partly a desire to see more friendship fic, … Read more

For Readers: Metaphorically Queer

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X-Men

For Readers: Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Andrew Kelley: I know that there are several Sci-fi movies and books that weren’t specifically LGBT themes and didn’t even make mention of any LGBT issues that I strongly identified with and really moved me. Even though I don’t think the author/director/screenwriter meant it to be an analogy it still could have been. Are there movies/ books that others felt this way about as well? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat