A-spec

A-spec (also written as aspec) is an umbrella term that encompasses both the asexual and aromantic spectra. Identities under the umbrella are closely connected as part of a broad community.

The term is sometimes more broadly used to include other identities with the 'a-' prefix, such as agender.

Etymology
The term a-spec, or aspec, is short for aspectrum.

History
It is thought that the term "aspec" was first used to describe the asexual spectrum in late 2015 or early 2016.

Controversy
There is some controversy around the term "aspec" having been appropriated from the autistic community.

Flag
The a-spec flag was created by Tumblr user The-Moon-Is-Aroace on March 25, 2019. The compass rose in the middle is a symbol of how individuals all experience romantic and sexual attraction in different ways, if at all. The green and purple are on opposite sides of the quadrant to show that asexuality and aromanticism are their own separate and independent identities, with the black and grey quadrants connecting them. Black represents the aroace community and grey represents grey communities.

There are various other a-spec flags.

The aloe vera a-spec flag was designed by Tumblr users Sapphic-Squirrel and Hetaces with help from the Inclusionist Discord Server and was posted on November 17, 2019. It was designed to mimic the sapphic, achillean, diamoric, and pluralian flags with three stripes and one plant. The green is for aromantics, the purple for asexuals, and gray for the area between a- and allo- identities.

The aloe vera flag was redesigned by RavenFire803 on July 1, 2021, to represent the larger community. The aloe symbol was made to be both green and purple instead of just green to show balance.

The striped a-spec flag was created by RavenFire803 on July 6, 2021. It has no confirmed meaning.