I don't get it. They're both not "normal" in the hetero sense of the word yet asexuals seem to command a great deal more respect from the general populace than gays, lesbians or bisexuals. What's so cool about the inability to have sex anyways? Its more of a handicap than anything else. I mean, seriously, if you think about it don't you somehow figure that if you came out to your parents as asexual rather than gay, they'd give you less of a hard time? What do think. Do you think asexuals derseve or demand more respect than the LGBT community?

Since when do people idolize asexuals?

Assuming for a minute that your assumptions assumed above are true (look at the other posts above...), I'd assume that it's because sex is a taboo or at least "impure" part of our daily lives. It almost has a negative connotation sometimes, and asexuality is basically the embodiment of "purity".

Assuming your original post was true.
It's not.

Where did you get the idea that asexuals are idolized? Sure there are purity rings, abstinence and all that other bullshit, but it's hardly idolized. Either way, a person's sexual orientation shouldn't make you think any less of them as a person. What they do (or don't do) in bed is their own business.

I do believe that coming out as asexual would be slightly easier just because it's less of a "bomb" to drop on people... Especially for parents: Their (stereotypical) dream is that their kids wait until they are out of the house and responsible to have sex.

I believe that all orientations deserve equal respect and opportunities.

wha....? The idolozation of asexuals is news to me.

^ This - name me three specifically asexual icons in the world. Most people I know wouldn't even know what asexuality is. My friends only know because that's what they think I am. And the amount of people I know that though the reproductive relationships between plants was the definition of asexual was randomly staggering

Gays are troublesome and asexuals help provide us with oxygen.
Asexual people, however, are not "idolized" by society.

They don't.

OK maybe Idolize isn't quite the right word for it but the point I was trying to make is that out-of-the-closet asexuals seem to have it easier than out-of-the-closet gays or, for that matter, anyone "suspected" to be gay.

That's because no sex at all is better than sex with someone of the same gender...according you your typical anti-homosexuality-driven person anyway. Their issue revolves around who you're attracted to, not who you're not attracted to.

A+ thread, I almost thought I wouldn't learn something new today.

Let's just assume for one moment that people do idolize asexuals. The only possible reason I can think of for their idolization would be their ability to abstain from sex for no apparent reason, despite how pleasureable [I've been told] it is.

.

This...

Asexuals can have sex. It's not a handicap.