Some People Have Sexless Relationships – And Here Are Some Things Not to Say to Them

May 29, 2015 / Ronnie Ritchie

Have you ever made one of these assumptions about people in sexless relationships? Because they can be really hurtful.

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

Click for the Transcript

Panel 1

(Partners A and B are entering a house. They are in a romantic relationship.)

Partner B: How’re you feeling?

Partner A: (taking their coat off) Sorta nervous. It’s been a while since we’ve been to one of Dan’s parties.

Panel 2

Partner B: I’ll be sure to check in with you during the night. Is that okay?

Partner A: (hanging their coat up) Yeah.

Panel 3

Guest A: (shocked) What? You never have sex? Never ever?

Partner A: (clearly uncomfortable) Uh… no…

Panel 4

Guest B: Isn’t there like something they can take that would fix that?

Partner B: (frowns, not pleased) That’s kind of personal.

Panel 5

Guest A: Why not just do it every once in a while? It would make him happy, and who knows! It might grow on you!

Partner A: (increasingly uncomfortable) Can we talk about something else?

Panel 6

Guest B: (leans over and whispers conspiratorially) Let me guess… you’ve got something on the side right?

Partner B: (shocked and angry) What?! No!

Panel 7/8

Guest A: You’re at least letting him sleep around a little, right?

Guest B: If they aren’t doing anything, you have a right to dump them!

Guests A and B: (their speech bubbles converge) PEOPLE HAVE NEEDS!

Panel 9

(Partners A and B are back together in front of the food table.)

Partner A: (eating a snack) I don’t remember them being this bad…

Partner B: What jerks! It’s like they think that not having sex is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone!

Panel 10

(Both fuming)

Partner A: Everyone makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me, even though there’s not!

Partner B: I’m scared that if we have trouble with our commitment, everyone would blame you and say that our relationship has been doomed from the start!

Panel 11

(Both are silent for a moment)

Panel 12

Partner B: (moves closer and puts an arm around his partner) Want to leave?

Partner A: Yeah.

Partner B: Okay, I can say bye to everyone for you while you get your coat.

Partner A: (smiles, comforted) Okay.

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Ronnie Rene Ritchie is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism, an illustrator, and storyteller working out of Peterborough, Ontario. Since graduating from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon with a BFA in Illustration, Ronnie has had work featured in galleries and sex shops across North America, and their autobiographical webcomic, GQutie, has seen its popularity soar online. Learn more about GQutie, Ronnie’s illustration, or follow them on Twitter @ronithebear.