Allosexuality

Allosexuality is the ability to experience sexual attraction and the lack of identification with asexuality. Someone who experiences allosexuality is allosexual, sometimes shortened to allo. Other terms to describe non-asexual people include zedsexual, or simply sexual.

The term does not indicate the target of sexual attraction, meaning allosexual could describe someone who is heterosexual, gay, bisexual, or pansexual, for example. It also does not indicate how often an individual experiences sexual attraction or participates in sex or sexual encounters.

Terminology
The prefix allo- comes from the Greek word Állos, meaning "other", "different", or "atypical". It was attached to the suffix 'sexual' to create a term meaning "a person who experiences sexual attraction towards others". The structure parallels other sexuality terms such as homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc.

History
In a medicalized context, allosexual has been used in contrast to autosexual to describe sexual attraction towards others or sexual behavior between multiple people. The term was coined by the asexual community, as a way to name and discuss the experiences of non-asexual people. It is used to normalize asexuality and provide a term that can be used in conjunction with ace terminology. It makes it one sexuality among others, rather than being a deviation from what is simply 'normal'.

Society and culture
Asexuals are estimated to make up 1% or less of the total population and about 1.7% of the LGBT population. Since the majority of people would be classified as allosexual, it is viewed by some as the natural way of being and asexuality as a deviation from this norm. Physical intimacy is considered an essential part of romantic relationships among allosexuals, which can complicate relationships between asexual and allosexual individuals. Allonormativity, or the concept that all humans experience sexual attraction or desire a sexual relationship, can lead to the isolation and marginalization of asexual individuals.