Lovebird

I am autistic and cognitively/intellectually disabled, I use the terms disabled and neurodivergent interchangeably.

I found it when I realised that while I didn't have romantic attraction often, I fantasised having a romantic relationship regardless. I was hesitant to call myself cupio- though as I heard rumours the label was "problematic" but after that dispelled, it's a term I strongly relate to now.

People mainly give me a hard time because I am in a romantic relationship, my parents don't think the romantic feelings I harbour for my spouse are real because of my cognitive disabilities, despite us being together for four years.

I think disabled people are the biggest victims of amatonormitvity, though it may not sound like it - it heavily implies only those who are the best mentally and physically possible should be allowed to do thing an average person should, many cannot either cannot be in romantic relationships or even get married because either society tells them not to, or they'll lose their pensions or benefits if doing so. As a disabled arospec myself, I've been given more grief over me being in a romantic relationship than I have being greyro, that's how bad it is.

Yeah, I discovered the term alter-human a while back as well, before that I kinda used to say I was 'otherkin' but it still didn't fully fit what I felt, but I was afraid to call myself anything remotely non-human because I didn't want to seem 'crazy' or 'cringe'. I always knew I didn't feel truly human, but it was David Bowie who partially inspired me to embrace my non-human identity, the media always called him an 'alien' due to his eccentric looks & personality, and while I don't think he ever stated he never felt like a person, I think he certainly showed it more than he told it.

I don't feel human at all, more like an alien from another planet. Maybe it's due to me being neurodivergant and being treated like I'm not human when I was younger, but reclaimed it to a more positive idea; I'm not human, and that is okay.

Only child. Besides me, only one other member of my dad's side of the family, my cousin, is openly gay, we've only seen each other once as he was from England, though he moved to New Zealand a year later.

Pfft, no way! *shoves them all under the bed*

Funny enough, I saw a similar thread on the aromantic subreddit, only including our star sign- Greyro INFJ

Internet surfing, birds, religion, astrology, politics, true crime, ASMR, cooking, drawing and art in general

I'm Asensualflux, meaning my feelings on sensual attraction fluctuate a lot.

I've had similar thoughts that lead to my conclusion I'm aplatonic too. I enjoy hanging out with and, of course, befriending people - but I don't feel that intense desire for a full connection, if we click, we click, if we don't, we'll just stay acquaintances. I've had close and best friends before, but we've typically drifted apart due to different interests or life circumstances. I think it can be related to aplatonicism. I feel the same way, I refuse to be physically affectionate with my friends, not because I don't want to, I kind of wish to, but the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. I can only see myself being affectionate with my boyfriend. It feels a bit lonely being an aplatonic person in the aro community, they talk about how much they love their friends and I just sit there like "How does that feel??" Doesn't help that because I'm greyro, I experience more romantic attraction than I do platonic, which constantly makes me the odd one out in many aro spaces.

I don't particularly care for QP ships, but I think Saiki & Mera from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is perfect for it. A lot of people headcanon the protagonist as acearo (sometimes aplatonic), and canonically Mera is one of the few people he actually tolerates (She's a waitress who can make his favourite dessert perfectly, he starts getting to know her better after this).

"I feel like a monster" as in, for being greyro yet experiencing more romantic attraction than platonic attraction. Because I once saw someone say that anyone who does that is "some kind of psychopath" or "obviously faking it" and it's got me wondering if I am actually welcome in aro spaces.

My desire actually increased after I learnt I was arospec. When I expressed my angst in not having one, people would say "Just get a QPR instead!" but I didn't want one like that because I was aplatonic (not that I knew that was a word at the time), it made me feel like some kind of monster who wasn't really aro for even thinking of wanting one. And I still feel that burden today.

Only partially out online. I'm scared coming out in real life because I worry everyone won't believe me due to being already being in a serious romantic relationship.

I honestly can't remember, I know of the stereotype of primary school aged kids kissing in the playground but that never really happened in my school? Or I was just completely oblivious and that stuff did happen. Some of my classmates had the high school sweethearts thing but even then that wasn't as common as society made it out to be. I only remember having three crushes myself, 2 in primary school and 1 in high school, both didn't last very long but it was fun while they lasted.

A lot of people think it's only in America where disabled people are treated poorly, but in Australia, it's not much better. Sure we actually earn some money but it's just as hard to access services and acquire the pension as it's become such strict criteria because of "welfare fraud" fear mongering.

The quicker you pick, the more likely you are to get in. Some have certain spot limits (ie. 20 people per trip). It also helps to have plan funding, (The disability service I use is connected to the NDIA - an agency that funds the lives of people with disabilities to be more independent, activities funded include social, mental, physical, and more. Though it's definitely not without flaws) to actually do things, but because of recent underfunding among clients in recent years, some can only do 1-3 trips a year.

I just, right now, came back from a trip exploring around Southwest Victoria. It was amazing, and honestly preferable to most international travel. I have also signed up to go to Adelaide in June, fingers crossed I'm in. 🤞🏻

I don't like the idea of me traveling completely on my own due to my disabilities, so I currently travel with a disability service that offers those opportunities, nationally and internationally. When I do gain enough independence and I live with my boyfriend, I hope to do some travelling with him in future.

It's a variant of a username I have on a different app (the 'e' is replaced with the number 3). I love birds and I was thinking of them at the time of making it, there's also an old saying of calling a lovey-dovey couple a pair of lovebirds, and I'm romance favourable, so it's double the pun.

Xenogenders are pogchamp!! I use several, but my favourite in my collection is birdgender.