Navigating Your Identity: Being Autistic and LGBTQ+

The autistic experience--aka, a crazy mess of obstacles and situations most cannot even begin to comprehend. In a society geared toward neurotypicals, it’s hard enough just making your way through life attempting to fit in with others. But what happens when you’re not only struggling with your worldview as an autistic person, yet also have to come to terms with yet another earth shattering label?

To put it simply, autism causes those affected to have a vastly different mindset and way of thinking than their allistic peers. The neurodiverse spectrum includes a variety of syndromes and conditions which go against many societal norms. Sexuality and gender are one of the most debated topics of our time; and while tolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community is at an all time high, those who do not conform continue to be shunned in many communities and areas of the world.

According to the medical study “Gender dysphoria and autism spectrum disorder: A narrative review”, up to 22.5% of non-cisgender adolescents and young adults in Australia were diagnosed with autism, compared to only 2.5% of cisgender people. The study also predicted up to a quarter of transgender individuals worldwide could have autism.

In the article “The Correlation Between Sexuality and Autism and Gender”, around 70% of the autistic community may identify or come to terms with being sexually diverse, or a label other than ‘straight’.

While both sexuality and gender exist as completely different entities, both of their infinite varieties and forms of expression greatly coincide with being neurodiverse. Autism, specifically, includes a vastly unique sense of self and outlook on surrounding environments. To most autistics, societal expectations just don’t apply in the same ways as it does for allistics, which has also been found to apply to shared LGBTQ+ experiences.

Keeping historical gender disparities in the line of autism diagnosis in mind, it’s no surprise that assigned females at birth (AFAB’s) are even more likely to live outside the box when it comes to sexuality and gender. As illustrated in the article “Gender and sexuality in autism, explained”, just 8% of autistic female participants in a 2020 study identified exclusively as heterosexual. Another study featured in the article found that up to 15% of autistic adults in the Netherlands were transgender or nonbinary, with women making up most of this percentage.

Being a teenager comes with a lot--with responsibilities stacked on top of more responsibilities, not including the mounting pressure from both friends and family to act ‘right’. Adolescence becomes even harder when faced with the societal outliers of neurodiversity and a queer identity. Luckily for the internet, now more than ever can we understand and protect this marginalized group.

As proved by Trevorspace, approximately 5% of LGBTQ youth have been diagnosed with autism, while around 35% more suspect they do. The highest rates of autism in their 2022 study were placed on the transgender male and AFAB nonbinary communities.

Instead of attempting to repress yourself simply to fit in, find a like-minded community or group where you can be celebrated for simply being you. Whether online or in-person, this one small shift can make all the difference. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself and your needs.

Remember: Your current situation is only temporary. You will find happiness and acceptance someday. Your uniqueness is a virtue, one that will carry you through adulthood and into freedom.