David Jay

David Jay (born April 24, 1982) is an American asexual activist. Jay is the founder and webmaster of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), the most prolific and well-known of the various asexual communities established since the advent of the World Wide Web and social media.<ref name="Sex and society">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=guardian/>

Activism

Frustrated with the lack of resources available regarding asexuality, Jay launched AVEN's website in 2001.<ref name=guardian>Template:Cite web</ref> Since then, he has taken a leading role in the asexuality movement, appearing on multiple television shows, and being featured heavily in Arts Engine's 2011 documentary (A)sexual.<ref name=guardian/>

AVEN, which Salon.com referred to as the "unofficial online headquarters" of the asexuality movement,<ref name=salon>Template:Cite web</ref> is widely recognised as the largest online asexual community.<ref name=xpress>Template:Cite web</ref> Its two main goals are to create public acceptance and discussion about asexuality and to facilitate the growth of a large online asexual community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed As of June 17, 2013, AVEN has nearly 70,000 registered members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In New York City, working both with the Department of Education and private organizations, he has been providing training on Ace (asexual) inclusion to health educators.<ref>What Does It Mean to Be “Asexy”? Template:Webarchive Interview by Debra W. Soh for Playboy, March 29, 2017.</ref>

Personal life

Jay is from St. Louis, Missouri, and he graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the age of 15, Jay began considering himself asexual, and he came out as asexual while a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.<ref name=nymag>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jay is part of a nonromantic, three-parent family, which he views as influenced by his asexual identity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Writing

In 2024, David Jay published a book on relationships titled Relationality: How Moving From Transactional to Transformational Relationships can Reshape Our Lonely World.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

External links

• AVENguy Template:Webarchive – David Jay's online profile
• Love from the Asexual Underground - David Jay's blog and podcast about asexuality
• AVEN – Asexual Visibility and Education Network.
• Interview with Jay
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