You may have heard someone use the term alloromantic and were left confused! You’re not alone. The term is relatively new and encompasses many individuals who identify with many different romantic orientations. Let’s break it down here.
What Is Alloromantic?
The term alloromantic is used to describe a person who experiences romantic attraction to other people.
Alloromantic is a more inclusive term than aromantic, and it’s used to describe people who experience romantic attraction in addition to their asexual experience. If you’re alloromantic, you can be attracted to people of any gender, just like with heterosexuality.
This isn’t to say that alloromantics are exclusively attracted to people of the opposite sex or gender — instead, it means that they can experience romantic attraction toward anyone.
Signs That You’re Alloromantic
It’s essential to know the signs that you’re an alloromantic and how to navigate dating in a world that doesn’t always understand sexual orientation. Here are some signs that will help you know if you are indeed an alloromantic:
- You find yourself falling for people of all genders, regardless of their relationship status or whether they identify as queer or straight.
- You had had crushes on people before and felt butterflies in your stomach when you thought about them romantically.
- You like dating or have built an emotional connection with people you know well.
- You might also feel a more physical attraction to people who are interested in you romantically.
- You feel love at first sight or get butterflies in your stomach when you meet someone new.
- You want to be in a monogamous relationship with anyone.
- If you were asked what kind of relationship you wanted, it would be easy to answer the person you’d want to date or marry.
- You often think about things that would make you happy in your love life, such as romantic relationships.
The Difference Between Alloromantic, Aromantic, and Allosexual
Alloromantic vs. Allosexual
In the world of romance, there are many different types of people. You have your alloromantics, your allosexuals, and even people who are both.
As we discussed before, alloromantic is a term that describes someone whose romantic orientation is towards others. An alloromantic person may not be interested in sex and relationships, but their romantic attraction is still towards others.
On the other hand, allosexual is an umbrella term that describes someone who experiences sexual attraction to others. It does not refer to any specific sexual behavior or orientation but rather an experience of sexual attraction toward others. Allosexuality relates to the experience of sexual attraction, while the term allosexual refers to people who do not identify as asexual.
Alloromantic vs. Aromantic
Alloromantic and aromantic are terms used to describe romantic attraction to others. Alloromantics experience romantic attraction to people of all genders, while aromantics do not experience romantic attraction to anyone.
Alloromanticism is the romantic counterpart to heteroromanticism, the sexual orientation that refers to being attracted exclusively to members of the opposite gender. Aromanticism is the romantic counterpart to asexuality — an umbrella term covering various experiences, including a lack of romantic attraction and sexual attraction or interest in sex.
Aromantics often say they feel no desire for romance, friendship, or emotional intimacy with others. They may also feel little need to engage in these activities with other people. Aromantic individuals may be content with deep friendships with one or two close friends but not want anything more.
Related Read: What Is Allosexuality?
Alloromantic vs. Demiromantic: What’s the Difference?
To understand what makes alloromantic and demiromantic people different, we must examine how they experience romantic attraction. When you’re alloromantic, you don’t need to have a relationship with someone before you feel a romantic connection with them. You could be friends with someone for years before realizing you have feelings for them — or even have a crush on them immediately!
Demiromantics are romantically attracted to people after developing a strong emotional connection. They may also need to feel an emotional bond before feeling physical attraction. Some people think demiromanticism is a spectrum, too, but not everyone agrees on the exact parameters of what makes someone demiromantic or not.
An Overview of Alloromantic Sexual Orientation
There are many different types of sexual orientation. The term covers a range of behaviors, attractions, and emotional and romantic feelings for others. Sexual orientation varies from person to person and can change over time. Here are some most commonly known sexual orientations:
| Other Romantic Orientations | What Does It Mean |
| Biromantic | Someone who experiences romantic attraction toward both genders. |
| Heteroromantic | A person who feels romantic attraction toward someone of a different gender. |
| Homoromantic | Someone who experiences romantic attraction only toward the same gender. |
| Panromantic | A person who loves all genders. |
| Polyromantic | A person who loves multiple genders, but not all of them at once. |
| Grayromantic | Someone who doesn’t feel romantic attraction. |
Things to Consider When You’re an Alloromantic
As an alloromantic, you will always be attracted to people of a specific gender. This can confuse some people, as they may wonder how two people of the same gender can be romantically attracted to one another.
But there are many reasons why alloromanticism is worth exploring. Alloromantics are like any other romantic orientation — they want to find someone who will love them for who they are, not how they identify.
If you are alloromantic, it is essential to consider the following:
- You do not have to date someone who you find romantically attractive. Do not feel you must date anyone just because they are the same gender as you.
- Not everyone who identifies as alloromantic is asexual. Some people who identify as alloromantic experience sexual attraction to some degree, while others experience little or no romantic attraction at all.
- Other labels that may describe your romantic orientation include biromantic and panromantic (meaning you can be romantically attracted to people of more than one gender), homoromantic and heteroromantic (meaning you can be romantically attracted to people of the same or different genders).
- If you are alloromantic, you may also identify with other orientations such as bisexuality (meaning being attracted to multiple genders), pansexuality (meaning being attracted to multiple genders, including that outside of male and female), or something else entirely!
Related Read: Demisexual vs. Pansexual: Know the Similarities and Differences
Wrapping Up
As an alloromantic, you will always be attracted to people of a specific gender. This can confuse some people, as they may wonder how two people of the same gender can be romantically attracted to one another.
There’s a strong sense that being an alloromantic is the norm—and it often is. But it’s also not discussed much, leading to confusion. This blog aimed to give an overview of some everyday experiences and misunderstandings of alloromantics so that more people could participate in the conversation.
References
- Asexuality, attraction, and romantic orientation. LGBTQ Center. (2021, July 1). Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/exploring-identities/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation/
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