I was born queer, asexual, aromantic; sometimes, I do wonder if my HIV-positive status since birth and my childhood trauma contributed to my asexuality and aromantic identities. I lived 25 years as a survivor dealing with domestic violence. My father was abusive. I lived in poverty. I didn't date because of trauma. I did not want to experience a romantic relationship because of the abuse from my father. I didn't want to have sex because of my HIV-positive status.

My friend Rahwa founded Hidmo, an Eritrean restaurant that served delicious East African meals. This place was a community resource and center that hosted open mics and workshops for people around the world including youth and elders. This space also connected me to an organization called Youth Speaks Seattle who first introduced me to performance arts—spoken word poetry, hip-hop music, and social justice—in 2007 when I graduated from high school. Without the friendships I made during Youth Speaks and at Hidmo, I would have never found my voice.

There are people in the world who rely solely on friendship and community support resources just to survive, and I am one of those people. It is sad to witness the trend of romantic supremacy and its failure to recognize the importance of friendships, platonic relationships, and community-centered spaces which are just as important and vital as romantic relationships.

You can make a difference in the relationships you participate in already by paying more attention to your friends and family.