By Sam Voltaire
Around 7.1% of people in the U.S. identify under the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, plus) umbrella. This number may be growing with younger generations. Based on recent research, approximately 11% of Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996) and approximately 21% of Gen-Z (defined as people born between 1997 and 2003) identify as LGBTQIA+. Approximately 2.2% of adults in the U.S. are autistic, and recent studies suggest autistic people are significantly more likely to be sexual minorities and gender diverse. But there has been minimal policy and advocacy attention specifically on the needs of autistic LGBTQ+ individuals.
The Intersection of being LGBTQ+ and autistic
Autistic LGBTQIA+ people have unique experiences and enriching perspectives. This includes contributions to neurodiversity, the premise that every human has a unique brain with a unique combination of abilities and needs. Autistic sexual minorities challenge the binary ideas of how relationships can be or should be formed. For those who are also gender expansive, their lived experiences and understanding of gender help with shifting overall views on gender identity and how gender roles interact with our society. Without a doubt, autistic LGBTQIA+ people are resilient, despite the many challenges – historical and current – thrown their way.
Some of these challenges include limited access to appropriate support resources. For example, there is a lack of health and mental health resources that are both queer- and neuro-affirming. In practice, there is a limited number of providers and therapists who either encompass both identities and/or are affirming of both identities.
Autistic LGBTQIA+ people also face barriers in the school and workplace, where ableism – that is, discrimination against people with disabilities – as well as homophobia and transphobia can show up, such as experiencing lack of accommodations or being misgendered.
Policy barriers and targeted anti-trans and anti-gay legislation are contributing factors. Currently, half of states in the U.S. are rated “low” to “poor” when it comes to LGBTQIA+-affirming legislation and policies. Across the country, there have been 556 anti-transgender bills introduced to date. These bills range from banning LGBTQIA+ instruction in schools to bathroom bans and bans on healthcare access, all with the ability to be seriously detrimental on various parts of life for queer and transgender autistic people.
Policy and practice implications for change
There are various ways we can make impactful changes. One way is to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions – including those you may hold. This can be done by educating yourself on LGBTQIA+ and autistic identities and learning from educators who hold these identities. You can also speak up when someone says something incorrect and/or harmful about LGBTQIA people, autistic people, and people who live at the intersection. You can also share what you learn with others and try to engage in meaningful conversations.
Another key component is implementing inclusive collaboration efforts. If you are organizing an event, consider hosting it at (or in collaboration with) a local LGBTQIA+ organization . This requires you to get familiar (if you have not already) with the local queer and transgender affirming organizations in your area. Consider developing affinity groups where queer autistic people can meet to socialize and work with other queer autistic people.
If you run advisory boards, make sure that the voices of queer autistic people are actively represented. If you happen to be in the realm of surveying and/or conducting research, make sure to ask good questions on gender and sexuality. There is a growing body of research work that can be referenced for incorporating these questions.
Finally, engage in policy tracking and become familiar with the local and state policies that impact LGBTQIA+ people. You can do this by following health and disability news, subscribing to policy newsletters from non-profit organizations, research institutes, and advocacy organizations. There are even interactive policy maps that exist that track LGBTQIA policies and transgender-specific policies across the U.S. These tools are helpful for making sure that both current and future policy decisions are affirming and prioritizing the needs of autistic LGBTQIA+ people.
It is beyond time for autistic LGBTQIA+ people to be prioritized in autism policy and research. This includes challenging stereotypes and harmful narratives, promoting and enacting inclusive policies, and working towards actionable changes that ultimately enrich the lives of autistic LGBTQIA+ people.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 7.1% of people in the U.S. identify as LGBTQIA+, with higher percentages among younger generations (approximately 11% for Millennials and approximately 21% for Gen-Z).
- Autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals bring diverse perspectives that emphasize neurodiversity and challenging traditional ideas of relationships and gender.
- Limited access to supportive resources is a major challenge, as is ableist, homophobic, and transphobic practices and policies that impact all parts of life, from school and work to access to healthcare and personal safety.
- Actionable change is needed. These actions include challenging stereotypes, educating oneself, speaking up against harmful narratives, promoting inclusive collaboration, incorporating gender and sexuality questions in research, staying informed about policies affecting LGBTQIA+ individuals, and supporting affirming policies.