I wasn't sure exactly where to put this, as I don't know if it is specifically acephobic, but here goes:
I reacquainted with the few family members I now see around 2016. Since that time, and particularly since the post-Covid isolation restrictions, my family keep "jokingly" referring to me having some sort of intimate relationship with a number of people.
The first a friend I used to visit 3-5 times a year. I never stayed at her place, always stayed by myself in a hotel. Most of the times it wasn't even just us, but ace meetups. And my family are well aware that I am generally male-attracted, whereas she was female, and very feminine in appearance.
Yet, my family would imply until a year ago when that friendship terminated (for reasons unassociated to this post), that we were in some sort of romantic relationship. Despite my explaining on a number of occasions that I had no romantic attraction to her, they could seemingly not accept that. Their insinuations continued for a few years, even when I had a boyfriend.
As well as that, there are two friends I have at the autism group that my family suggest I am or may be in a romantic relationship with, despite both of those being in other relationships, and none of us being interested in one another in that way.
And then there are three family members (two steps related, second cousins?) that my family have several times suggested there is something going on. All three are male, none are in any way gay, and two are in long-term relationships.
I only even talk to them every few weeks, one of them not even that often, so I don't even understand it.
They don't make any such suggestions about my two heterosexual brothers, and both have had a lot of relationships, so you'd think that given they are more into the whole relationship/romance thing, that they would be the ones who are always assumed to be in some sort of romantic entanglement with anyone they happen to speak to (I say that, because that is what is assumed of me).
Like, I literally barely speak to anyone, most of it is done online, and I rarely leave my flat, but the minute I say hello to someone, suddenly my Dad and Aunt assume I am having some sort of illicit affair.
They know I am asexual, and that currently my mental health is not even in any sort of condition for me to have a romantic relationship (given I can't leave my flat alone), so why keep making the stupid remarks?
That's happened a few times to me.
In high school and college, my parents and siblings assumed any girls/women I was friends with may have been potential partners. Then, in grad school, I was platonically having lunch with a friend (who is ace and was in a committed relationship with someone else at the time) and a friend saw us and assumed I had romantic intentions.
The best story, though, was when I was in my 5th year of grad school. Friends had previously been pressuring me to date, but stopped that year because my closest female friend was a first-year undergrad, and they didn't want us dating with that kind of age gap at an age where it manifested as a behavior gap. Seven years later, we entered a QPR, and have been together ever since.
In school and college I didn't get any thing like it, as I was socially isolated, so there was no one for me to be assumed to be dating.
It seems to have become more prevalent over the last 2-3 years, and it is confusing as to why that is the case.
That is wonderful that you are your partner eventually have wound up together, I wish you both a wonderful future.
