| Dave Jay | |
| Birth Date: | 1982 4, mf=yes |
| Alma Mater: | Wesleyan University |
| Occupation: | Asexual activist |
David Jay (born April 24, 1982) is an American asexual activist. Jay is the founder and webmaster of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), the most prolific and well-known of the various asexual communities established since the advent of the World Wide Web and social media.[1]
Frustrated with the lack of resources available regarding asexuality, Jay launched AVEN's website in 2001.[2] Since then, he has taken a leading role in the asexuality movement, appearing on multiple television shows, and being featured heavily in Arts Engine's 2011 documentary (A)sexual.[2]
AVEN, which Salon.com referred to as the "unofficial online headquarters" of the asexuality movement,[3] is widely recognised as the largest online asexual community.[4] Its two main goals are to create public acceptance and discussion about asexuality and to facilitate the growth of a large online asexual community.[5] As of June 17, 2013, AVEN has nearly 70,000 registered members.[6]
In New York City, working both with the Department of Education and private organizations, he has been providing training on Ace (asexual) inclusion to health educators.[7]
Jay is from St. Louis, Missouri, and he graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School in 2000.[8] At the age of 15, Jay began considering himself asexual, and he came out as asexual while a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.[9]
Jay is part of a nonromantic, three-parent family, which he views as influenced by his asexual identity.[10]
In 2024, David Jay published a book on relationships titled Relationality: How Moving From Transactional to Transformational Relationships can Reshape Our Lonely World.[11]