'Asexual Activism': A Very Modern Paradox

For anyone who has ever spent their time musing the age-old question of ‘what does an asexual look like?’ - we now, thankfully, have the answer.

Yasmin Benoit, the ‘asexual activist and model’ has started the Twitter hashtag #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike.

Given that feelings of sexual attraction are completely unique to every person, you might have assumed that ‘asexual’ potentially looks like any one of us, with no discerning patterns or features.

If so, you assumed wrong.

For you see, Benoit is often found posing in highly revealing and, dare I say, sexually provocative clothing, which can include latex bondage gear and fishnet tights.

Benoit also produces her own design of ‘asexual lingerie’ (possibly one of the greatest oxymorons I have ever come across).

This might come as a surprise to many, who may well have assumed that ‘asexuality’ would, if anything, result in someone wishing to appear less overtly sexual.

However, if you dare to question Benoit in good faith around the logic behind this, you will be met with the following retorts:

“You’ve overestimated how much you’re worth my time. Google it”

“I’m sorry you think I’m hot but it really isn’t that deep

When Douglas Murray questioned Benoit on her presentation, she replied: “Because it looks cool”.

Irrespective of what I think, the concept of ‘asexuality’ appears to have gained increasing prominence, with more and more variations of the ‘LGBT+ spectrum’ including reference to it. It has its own flag. There is even an ‘International Asexuality Day’.

Benoit, who is often invited to give talks to large corporations, including Google, was even selected to be the first-ever ‘asexual grand marshal’ at NYC Pride this year.

This involved the hugely important task of being driven around on the top of a convertible Jaguar, while wearing highly revealing clothing. When I posed a question to Benoit as to what that had to do with ‘asexuality’, she informed me: “It’s called being badass, James”.

Well, that’s me told.

However, beneath the bluster, there are genuine concerns about the impact of this narrative on society.