ARCsexual

ARCsexual is a general term for a person who feels Averse, Repulsed, or Conflicted (ARC) towards sex. ARCsexual is similar to Apothisexual. However, one can identify as ARCsexual without being Asexual. The term is for anyone, Asexual or Allosexual, who feels as though they may fit.

ARC is also an umbrella term that encompasses several identities to more specifically describe one's attitude towards sex. The suffix -carnal is used in these terms to describe ARC feelings. Terms using this terminology include:


 * ARCflux: One's ARC feelings fluctuate.
 * Acarnal: Sex-Indifferent.
 * Anticarnal: Sex-Repulsed. Feels a strong visceral reaction of disgust, negativity, etc at the concept of sex.
 * Procarnal: Sex-Favorable.
 * Discarnal: Sex-Averse. Opposed to the idea of engaging in sex themselves, but are fine with sexual activity that does not involve them.
 * Eriscarnal: Sex-Conflicted/Sex-Ambivalent. Having mixed feelings towards sex. Common examples include: Ones feelings towards sex might change or one might be favorable towards certain sexual acts and repulsed by others. One may feel sex repulsion but still desires a sexual relationship. Or one may feel sexual attraction but be repulsed at one's own sexual thoughts.
 * Requiescarnal: A feeling of repulsion due to trauma and exhaustion. Similar to Requiessexual, but specifically pertaining to repulsion and ARC.

Pronunciation

 * Ay-are-see-sek-shuel
 * A-r-c-sek-shuel
 * Ark-sek-shuel

History
The ARCsexual idea was originally created by WordPress blogger Kisten Sadi. They created a post about ARCsexual on December 14, 2014, which is the first record of the term. Kisten created a tumblr blog to specifically discuss ARCsexual, ARCresources, where they provided information about the term and its subcategories, as well as giving advice about Asexual identity and ARCsexuality.

Flags
There have been multiple ideas for ARCsexual flags originating on ARCresources, which were modified until the community mostly settled on the most common flag used today. Two potential official flags were released on the blog on 10 March, 2015, and established to be the official flag on March 11, 2015.

The concept of the diagonal stripes was supposed to signify alignment with different MOGAI communities, while also setting them apart “since [it] isn’t a gender or a sexuality but [it] still needs visibility.” Red signifies association with sex, and the idea of not wanting sex and refusal and repulsion towards it. There isn’t a clear meaning for the blue, possibly added for higher contrast and aesthetics. In Sadi's mind, black, white, and grey were associated with MOGAI, and also were associated with Asexual and Aromantic communities.

Other flags are less frequently used and less well-known, and mostly were used in the development process of the official flag. The theme of the flags is mostly the same, with the colors and aspects of the flag still representing the same things.

The flags without the blue were created by tumblr user That-Nonbinary-Guy (now Louaxel) on February 4, 2015. That-Nonbinary-Guy made two different concept flags and a muted version each, adding up to four flags in total.

An alternate ARCsexual flag was created by discord user hydra#2159 on or before March 6, 2021.