Alyshia “Lici” Rodgers, otherwise known as YaGirlLici on Instagram and TikTok, is a Southern Mississippi Graphic Designer and watercolor artist. She has spent the last year creating content curating and providing commentary on asexual and aromantic representation in Popular Culture. Her social media platforms strive to help the Asexual & Aromantic community on how to approach advocating for more diversity in aro/ace representation on screen, in books, and more (or making posts to make you laugh) . She currently resides on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her family. 

I had the opportunity to interview Alyshia, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Hey Y’all! I’m Alyshia Rodgers, otherwise known as YaGirlLici! I am a graphic designer, artist, and educator who loves the beach, reading way too much and my family. I’ve been out as demisexual and aromantic-asexual since 2015. Currently I am working freelance graphic designer and artist and living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My passions are learning way too much about our ever evolving queer and asexual community and sharing what I learn and my thoughts with others.  

As an online ace presence, how did you find yourself getting into asexual/aromantic advocacy? 

Calling what I do “advocacy” still sounds foreign to me. I want to be a good person, and when I originally started talking about queer education and information it was just explaining each of the colors of queer flags through art. Then in 2023 I decided to make a “spam” tiktok page where I could just talk about characters, headcanons and theories, and people took a liking to what I had to say. I didn’t know how little others knew about certain characters, sublabels, and media, so I am happy to continue to make hidden gems known and provide further insight. I am a black nerd first and foremost (a “blerd” if you will), who has only been creating content like this since 2024. I still feel like a down south black woman who talks too much. There is so many amazing activists and talented artists, writers, and others who honestly paved the way that I’m surprised reached out to me. It feels like a true community, where we are able to share thoughts. But unlike a lot of others, I am not one to mince words or allow my personality to stomped out by people’s assumptions of me. So is me being an “online presence” a good thing? Time will tell, people would rather just call me “chronically online” (and they would be mainly right) and overly invested in the ever changing landscape of the aspec community in fandom and social media spaces. 

What are some things about asexuality/ aromanticism you would want people to take away from this interview?

Just remember that we are out there and don’t pigeon whole us as spectrums. Put your voice out there. You may think noone wants to hear what you have to say, or see your art or hear your stories, but only you can speak for yourself and what you want to see in terms of representation. And before you say “I am not pretty enough, smart enough, well enunciated,” or any downplaying of yourself, never, ever sell yourself short. Most of us here just decided one day “hey what if I just speak what’s on my mind” and go! You won’t know who needs to hear what you have to say until you tried. Self-advocate for yourself, and the others will take in kind. 

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet, but wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)?

Surprisingly, no one has asked what my favorite asexual character is. I receive so many request to talk about other people’s favorite characters, (and you would be surprised at how many of them are of one or two characters). I like to place emphasis on characters that are inarguablely aspec ( so no having to look at a outside interview or forced out tweet because the fandom was demanding an answer) and push the boundaries of what a stereotypical asexual character is. So my top three favorite ace characters is Abbi Singh from The Imperfects, Alice from Let’s Talk about Love by Claire Khann, and Exes and Foes by A.M. Woody. Its important that people get to see not only how asexuality can look like from multiple viewpoints, and as a black aroace woman I personally relate to them in varying degrees.

For someone new to the ace/aro community, what resources would you recommend checking out?

The Aro and Ace Relationship Guide by Cody Daigle-Orians is one I recommend to people alot. Also, for my social media lovers, the Black Ace Culture Instagram has carefully curated information for living life while being black and asexual. Of course, there is Refusing Compulsory Sexuality; A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown. Also “The Other A in LGBTQIA by AUREA (for those who don’t know is the Aromantic-Spectrum Union for Recognition, Education, and Advocacy) is honestly one of the most comprehensive books on Aromantism and Asexuality in recent years. 

What are some ways you would recommend for someone hoping to celebrate or advocate for their own queer identities?

Put yourself out there! Whether it be though visual art, music, poetry and stories or setting up an cracked IPhone 13 like I do, share your voice and experiences. You may find others who understand your point of view and feel community with you. Storytelling is a old as time itself, and in this day and age where those in power are trying to erase us, now is a better time as any to make yourself heard. 

Who are some ace/queer activists you would recommend others to know about?

Now, I’ve seen you have already reached out to some of my colleagues in the past, such as AceDadAdvice, and Gentle Giant Ace. I also want to recommend LynnSaga, who’s Youtube has shared a plethora of information for queer people, from current news, to memes to queer discourse. Lastly I recommend Ashabi, known online as Ace in Grace, an asexual activist who has dedicated created a space for the asexual community to evolve and feel seen. 

What LGBTQIA+ media (i.e. books/ television/etc.) would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?

For people who are interested in creating characters with better knowledge of the aromantic spectrum I highly recommend The other A in the LGBTQIA+ book by AUREA that has recently came out. It contains so much knowledge on the asexual and aromantic spectrums that people should learn about and can apply to their characters and arcs. The next one would be Velvet by Zanah Thirus, a podcast with an in depth look on sensuality while being on the asexual spectrum, furthering more resources for the community.