Comedian and actress Janeane Garofalo has something to say to just about everything, whether it’s politics, racism, intelligence (or the lack of intelligence), or sex. She has publicly come out as being uninterested in relationships and calls herself asexual. Even in her comedy routines, she has often come out as being uninterested in having sex. Ironically, she is well known for her role in the cult status movie, Wet Hot American Summer. 

Nikola Tesla once said, “I do not think you can name many great inventions that have been made by married men.” True to his word, the famous inventor never married and it is believed that he may have died a virgin. His true love was in the act of creation and has said that, “I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success… such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything.” He is considered by many to have been asexual. 

Singer Morrissey’s sexuality has often been the subject of debate, with many people believing that he is gay. In 2013, he came out in his autobiography as being humasexual, saying, “I am attracted to humans. But, of course … not many.” Morrissey says that he is celibate and that he was never attracted to girls as a teenager, although he has considered the idea of having children with a woman. Morrissey is listed as asexual in numerous online reports. 

Because of Florence Nightingale's selfless, heroic efforts, she and her team of nurses helped save the lives of numerous soldiers during the Crimean War. She practiced a whole body approach to nursing that included improving the sanitation conditions of the hospital, establishing a laundry for patient’s sheets, and she provided her patients with stimulating reading materials. After the war, she was rewarded by the Queen for her unending efforts and compassion. Soon after, Nightingale helped fund St. Thomas’ Hospital and opened the Nightingale Training School for Nurses. Having devoted so much time to helping others, Nightingale never married and is believed to have been asexual. 

Howard Phillips Lovecraft is one of the most quietly celebrated horror writers in the history of the genre. His tales of demonism and dark, ancient horrors influenced many of the horror writers we know of today. H.P. Lovecraft, however, was uncomfortable on the subject of sex. Being very Victorian and prudent, he was a virgin when he married his wife. His wife, Sonia, admits that Lovecraft had to read books on what was expected of a husband in the bedroom, but he was far from enthusiastic about the ordeal. Sonia stated that, “Of course, I did not expect him to be an ample provider but I did harbour some secret expectations that he might, after all, prove to be normal as a husband and lover. I felt however, that his inhibitions were provoked more or less by his severe Puritanical bringing up.” 

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists of the world. A physicist and mathematician, he was the leading founder of calculus, physics, and optics. His extreme self studies into the sciences is probably why he had no time for relationships and he is commonly listed as being asexual. In fact, it is believed that this genius died a virgin. About his work, he is quoted as having said, “If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been due more to patient attention, than to any other talent.” 

Winner of the Booker Prize and author of The Bone People, Keri Hulme is very open to questions about her asexuality. In an interview on the NZ Herald News, she tells us that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being asexual. When asked about common misconceptions surrounding asexuality, she said, “The idea that asexual people can be cured. I am not sick, I am not deficient; I may not be normal but I am thoroughly natural. And I don't want to be any different from the way I am.” She also talks about the feelings of isolation many asexual people feel and how the AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network) forum is helping asexuals discover that they are not alone. 

As is often the case, any man or woman of history who was never married or had children is called out as being gay. Such was the case for Thomas Edward Lawrence who had no known loves in his life. Commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia, he is known to have been captured by the Ottoman Turks and suffered repeated torture and humiliation at their hands. Biographers believe that Lawrence was a virgin at the time of his capture and that the events that followed left Lawrence bereft of any known sexual desires.