Woman comes out as 'abrosexual' as she reveals it took her 30 years to realize her identity

A woman who came out as "abrosexual" has revealed what that means, and how it took her 30 years to understand her identity.

Explaining something that challenges social norms is never easy, but for Emma Flint, living authentically meant embracing her truth, no matter the reaction.

The Abrosexual flag. Credit: SUTHIDAX/Getty

This commitment to authenticity led her to openly share her sexuality.

Despite her confidence in identifying as "abrosexual" after three decades of self-discovery, not everyone responded supportively to her journey toward self-acceptance.

While proud to identify as abrosexual, a term many are unfamiliar with, Emma faced mixed reactions from those around her.

One friend responded with surprise, texting, "When did you decide this? Is this even a label – I’ve never heard of it. I support you, obviously, but this doesn’t sound real."

Abrosexuality, defined as experiencing fluid levels of sexual or romantic attraction over time, can mean that a person’s orientation may shift.

According to WebMD, abrosexual individuals may also see their sexual preferences change or vary in intensity.

For instance, a person identifying as abrosexual might be drawn to men one week and experience no sexual attraction the next.

Derived from the Greek word "abro," meaning “delicate” or “graceful,” the term reflects the dynamic nature of this identity.

For Emma, learning about abrosexuality brought relief and clarity.

"I didn’t learn about abrosexuality until two years ago, when I was 30," she explained in a personal essay for Metro. "Up until that point, I’d struggled to identify what my sexuality was because it fluctuated so rapidly."

For years, she tried to fit into conventional labels, often feeling “like a lesbian” one day and bisexual the next. But with time, she realized: "My sexuality was fluid."

Yet, navigating this newfound understanding wasn’t always easy, especially as she shared her identity with friends and family who struggled to understand.

“I’m not expecting everyone to know what it means – hell, I didn’t until two years ago – but you should always listen with respect,” she wrote, adding that most loved ones were supportive and curious to learn more.

However, Emma still occasionally encounters dismissive remarks, even from well-meaning individuals.

"It’s still hard to hear things like ‘mate, you’re just confused’ or ‘just say you’re bisexual and be done with it,’” she said, noting her determination to avoid limiting labels.

“I refuse to be boxed in by someone else’s limited knowledge. We’re all learning new things about ourselves all the time – that’s what growth and development is about.”

Looking forward, Emma hopes that abrosexuality will become widely understood and accepted.

“Eventually, I hope that abrosexuality will be seen as normal, just another identity that someone might have, and not regarded as a way to be ‘on trend,’ as some of the hurtful comments I’ve received suggest,” she shared.

With newfound confidence in her identity, Emma expressed: "I’m no longer nervous about my sexuality because it makes sense to me, and in the end, that’s all that really matters."

Featured image credit: SUTHIDAX/Getty