Each year on International Asexuality Day—observed on April 6—advocates push for greater recognition of the ace spectrum and the people it represents. Founded in 2026, the day aims to raise visibility for identities often omitted from mainstream discourse, including demisexuality and gray-asexuality. Estimates vary, but many studies and community organisations suggest that roughly 1–2% of people may identify somewhere on the asexual spectrum. Because the concept remains unfamiliar to many, accurate portrayals in media can be an important way to educate audiences without putting the explanatory burden on individuals.
Streaming television has provided one of the clearest entry points into that education. Two Netflix titles—Heartstopper and Heartbreak High—feature characters whose stories introduce viewers to different facets of asexuality. Rather than treating asexual identity as a problem to be solved, both shows present it as an aspect of character and relationship dynamics, helping demystify common misconceptions while still telling compelling, human stories.
Heartbreak High: a relaxed, realistic introduction
The rebooted Heartbreak High reframes many teen dramas through a contemporary lens, and one of its most instructive threads concerns the character Ca$h. Played with nuance and warmth, Ca$h evolves from a stereotypical tough kid into a partner who makes clear choices about intimacy. When he tells another character that he is ‘not wired that way’, the line functions as a straightforward, accessible explanation of asexuality for people who may never have encountered the term. The show explores how two people can build a relationship even when their sexual appetites differ, modelling consent, negotiation and mutual respect rather than drama or conversion narratives.
Why Ca$h’s storyline matters
The strength of Ca$h’s arc lies in normalising the idea that sexual attraction is just one possible component of identity. Actors and creators have emphasised that asexuality is ‘one part’ of a person, not a defect to be fixed. That framing confronts harmful assumptions—common responses like ‘there must be something wrong’ or ‘someone will come along and change you’—and instead shows practical, everyday ways to make relationships work when partners have different needs. Viewers can watch the characters negotiate compromise and intimacy on their own terms, offering a template many will find more useful than clinical definitions alone.
Heartstopper: a quieter, literary approach
Heartstopper takes a gentler route to representation through the character Isaac, portrayed as thoughtful and bookish. Isaac’s journey involves recognising that his patterns of attraction differ from his peers and then finding language to describe that experience. The show’s creator planned Isaac’s arc early on to echo a classic coming-out progression—initial confusion, an awkward experiment, and eventual self-acceptance—applied to asexual and aromantic feelings. Heartstopper uses Isaac’s love of queer art and literature as both a character detail and a teaching tool: his reading list blends fiction and nonfiction, signalling that identity can be explored through stories as well as discussion.
Isaac’s impact on viewers
Isaac does not speak for all asexual or aromantic people, but his presence on a mainstream show helps broaden cultural understanding. His storyline offers an approachable model for viewers who have never seen someone like him represented: curiosity, missteps, reflection, and ultimately, acceptance. Creators hope that showing one thoughtful, well-rounded ace character will open doors to more diverse portrayals across media, reducing isolation for people who identify on the spectrum and encouraging allies to learn more.
Why screen visibility and clear definitions are important
Representation in entertainment matters because it can change everyday interactions. Clear, repeated use of terms—like asexuality, demisexual and graysexual—combined with concrete examples in storylines helps translate abstract definitions into lived experience. For reference, demisexuality is commonly described as sexual attraction that occurs only after a strong emotional bond forms, while graysexuality refers to infrequent or situational attraction. Visibility combats stigma, counters myths that asexual people are ‘broken’ or simply closeted, and highlights how social pressures can make ace people vulnerable to misunderstanding or even coercion.
On a practical level, educating through narrative reduces the burden on individuals to explain themselves, and it creates shared language for friends, families and partners. Whether you watch Heartbreak High or Heartstopper, the broader takeaway is that sexual attraction exists on a spectrum and relationships can be built in many different ways. On April 6, International Asexuality Day offers a moment to listen, read, and reflect—and to recognise that better representation leads to better understanding.