If you’ve ever felt like your attraction is more “foggy cloud” than clear-cut, you’re not alone. A growing number of people are embracing a newer label — nebulasexual — that helps put words to the experience of ambiguous attraction influenced by neurodivergence. Here’s a friendly, down-to-earth look at what it means, how it works, and why many feel seen by it.
A Nebula in Space — and in Identity
The nebulasexual flag takes inspiration from the Crab Nebula, a stunning cosmic cloud of gas and dust in space. The colors — soft greens, whites, and oranges — were chosen to evoke that dreamy, clouded feeling of trying to “see” attraction clearly. UNILAD+2LGBTQIA Wiki+2
The nebulasexual flag was inspired by the picturesque Crab Nebula (Getty stock)
That imagery fits the identity itself: something visible yet mysterious, diffuse yet meaningful.
What Does Nebulasexual Mean?
Nebulasexuality falls under the quoisexual / neurosexual umbrella — a category for people who find it hard to tell whether they experience sexual attraction or not, especially because their neurodivergent brain (or intrusive thoughts) muddy the waters. Queerdom+2LGBTQIA Wiki+2
Here are a few common threads many describe:
- You notice someone’s appearance or presence and feel something, but you can’t pinpoint if it’s sexual, aesthetic, platonic, or something else entirely.
- Your neurodivergence (ADHD, autism, OCD, intrusive thoughts) complicates how attraction is filtered or processed.
- You might want intimacy or a sexual relationship, but you’re unsure whether that’s from actual sexual attraction or another form of desire. Amino Apps+3orientation.fandom.com+3Newsner English+3
- It’s different from “just being confused.” Being nebulasexual is a stable orientation for many — not a fleeting uncertainty. Newsner English+1
In short: nebulasexual = attraction feels cloudy → not because you’re “wrong,” but because your brain processes differently.
What People Say Online
Reddit and Tumblr have become spaces where folks share deeply personal experiences with this label. One user said:
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“I’ve been questioning for years because I could never tell if what I was feeling was actually attraction or just… something else? Finding the term nebulasexual was like finally having words for this fog I’ve been living in.” UNILAD
Someone else, speaking from the ADHD experience:
“I might think someone is attractive, but whether that’s sexual, aesthetic, or just my brain hyperfixating on their features? No clue. Nebulasexual fits perfectly.” UNILAD+1
These stories show how much relief people feel when a term finally matches their internal experience.
How the Flag Was Born
The nebulasexual flag was created by Tumblr user Libragender in February 2020. Tumblr+3LGBTQIA Wiki+3Queerdom+3 The flag has seven horizontal stripes (greens to orange, with a white stripe in the middle), mirroring the cloud-like transitions you’d see in a nebula photograph. Tumblr+1
The Nebulasexual flag was designed back in 2020 and has now been adopted by Pride (Tumblr)
Because the term is still new and evolving, you might see alternate versions or variations — but the central visual idea is the “cloudy gradient” that symbolizes uncertainty and beauty.
Why It Matters
- Validation — Nebulasexual gives people a name for attraction that doesn’t follow neat rules.
- Inclusive language — It’s part of a shift toward more nuanced understanding, especially for those with neurodivergence.
- Community — Finding a label helps lessen isolation. People see they’re not alone in their experience.
If you want to explore adjacent labels, check out quoisexual, nebularomantic, or nebularoace (a combination of romantic + sexual ambiguity). orientation.fandom.com+3LGBTQIA Wiki+3LGBTQIA Wiki+3
References & Further Reading
- Queerdom Wiki – Nebulasexual Queerdom
- LGBTQIA+ Wiki – Nebulasexual LGBTQIA Wiki+1
- UNILAD article on new identities UNILAD
