LGBTQ autism and LGBTQ-autism advocacy
18 Aug 2018, 5:23 pm
While not trying to divert Wrong Planeteers to other venues, I wonder why the various topics about LGBTQ autism are few compared to the media references it has garnered in the global community. Here are a few of my favorites:
“I’m Autistic and Sick of Feeling Excluded from Queer Spaces”
<https://www.them.us/story/queerness-and-autism>
“The Intersectionality of Autism and Homosexuality”
<https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/3/10/intersectionality-autism-and-homosexuality>
“Meet Justin Robbins”
<http://www.autismarticulated.com/blog/2017/6/4/meet-justin-robbins>
“OPINION: gay autistic and dyslexic comedian Robert White struggles to have one”
<http://outnewsglobal.com/opinion-gay-autistic-dyslexic-comedian-robert-white-struggles-one/>
“Twainbow ... People living under a double-rainbow”
<https://www.twainbow.org/>
What is your opinion about the media's descriptions about LGBTQ autism?
_________________
Diagnosed in 2015 with ASD Level 1 by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic using the ADOS-2 Module 4 assessment instrument [11/30] -- Screened in 2014 with ASD by using the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre AQ (Adult) [43/50]; EQ-60 for adults [11/80]; FQ [43/135]; SQ (Adult) [130/150] self-reported screening inventories -- Assessed since 1978 with an estimated IQ [≈145] by several clinicians -- Contact on WrongPlanet.net by private message (PM)
RandomFact
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 11 Aug 2018
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 51
Location: California
18 Aug 2018, 10:51 pm
Thanks for bringing up this topic, AspieUtah. I skimmed the various articles in the links. They seem pretty typical of what I would expect to see whenever the media starts talking about the challenges of intersectional identities: broad-brush strokes and little depth. The write-ups are reasonably successful at describing what the most obvious issues are going to be (e.g., loud crowded club = bad for gay Aspie), but they don’t really go in detail about why the problems would be hard to solve, what other challenges might be hidden below the surface, how the two identities align or are different, etc., etc. There is much more that could be explored. Among the things that came to mind:
1. LGBTQ identity and Autism are similar in that children who belong to one or both groups are often being reared in households with parents from the majority group (heterosexual and/or NT). This puts a lot more pressure on a kid coming of age if he or she really needs the parents’ support around autism, but doubts the parents will be supportive of an LGBTQ identity.
2. The gay community demanded and established the precedent that people living with HIV would have a voice in the treatments being developed and in how the disease was represented. That legacy lives on. In a geographic community of any reasonable size here in the US, one would be called out for trying to set up or change HIV services without talking to someone who lives with the disease. By contrast, the autism world has AutismSpeaks, in which everyone but autistics speaks. There is an activist voice found in other organizations, but they don’t have the same financial resources behind them and are thus less visible. There also doesn’t seem to be any norm around asking autistics to weigh in on the suitability of treatments. Just writing on an article on the comparison between these two responses to a condition would be interesting, regardless of whether it has LGBTQ Aspies featured in it.
3. I came across a research study at one point that found that there is a higher than expected correlation between being transgender and having ASD. (I think the association is more pronounced for those transitioning F to M, than M to F, but I could be misremembering.) This suggests a story on transgender Aspies and the particular issues they face would be of value.
4. A more in-depth comparison of the sequential coming out process would be valuable. How are experiences similar or different for those who are diagnosed ASD first and then come out second vs. those who are out first and then come to realize they are Aspie? I can imagine there must be challenges either way. There are plenty of religiously oriented individuals connected to autism who would struggle to accept someone’s LGBTQ identity. And the gay community has had a lengthy history of struggling to deal with diversity issues within it. (Just look at the arguments that happened around adding the L, the B, the T, and the Q to LGBTQ.)
19 Aug 2018, 10:29 am
1. LGBTQ identity and Autism are similar in that children who belong to one or both groups are often being reared in households with parents from the majority group (heterosexual and/or NT). This puts a lot more pressure on a kid coming of age if he or she really needs the parents’ support around autism, but doubts the parents will be supportive of an LGBTQ identity.
2. The gay community demanded and established the precedent that people living with HIV would have a voice in the treatments being developed and in how the disease was represented. That legacy lives on. In a geographic community of any reasonable size here in the US, one would be called out for trying to set up or change HIV services without talking to someone who lives with the disease. By contrast, the autism world has AutismSpeaks, in which everyone but autistics speaks. There is an activist voice found in other organizations, but they don’t have the same financial resources behind them and are thus less visible. There also doesn’t seem to be any norm around asking autistics to weigh in on the suitability of treatments. Just writing on an article on the comparison between these two responses to a condition would be interesting, regardless of whether it has LGBTQ Aspies featured in it.
3. I came across a research study at one point that found that there is a higher than expected correlation between being transgender and having ASD. (I think the association is more pronounced for those transitioning F to M, than M to F, but I could be misremembering.) This suggests a story on transgender Aspies and the particular issues they face would be of value.
4. A more in-depth comparison of the sequential coming out process would be valuable. How are experiences similar or different for those who are diagnosed ASD first and then come out second vs. those who are out first and then come to realize they are Aspie? I can imagine there must be challenges either way. There are plenty of religiously oriented individuals connected to autism who would struggle to accept someone’s LGBTQ identity. And the gay community has had a lengthy history of struggling to deal with diversity issues within it. (Just look at the arguments that happened around adding the L, the B, the T, and the Q to LGBTQ.)
I don't know if I should be thanked. After all, LGBTQ autists of all ages will rise to the level of inclusion and accommodations that they seek whether it is encouraged or not. I can't speak for others, but I know what they have already accomplished.
While parent-driven organizations exist in abundance in my state, it seems that they are for assuaging concerns or creating social supports for themselves, not their autistic children (hardly a business model that will yield many benefits). Having recently completed an exhaustive survey of LGBTQ-autism services and supports, the evidence suggests that inclusive groups and services outnumber those which are exclusive. It might just be that because my state once had the highest rate of autism diagnoses and remains among the top states in diagnoses, but almost all our colleges and universities have LGBTQ-autism friendly provisions if not huge buildings, events and social supports. There are churches, schools, agencies, scouting groups, clinics and child-care centers involved deeply with providing care at all ages.
It is my opinion that the LGBTQ community has changed because its demographics have changed along with other groups. While not attempting to diminish the HIV/AIDS-era, it was created to save lives and oppose public policies that did little to assist those who were dying. The intersection of the LGBTQ and autism communities is appearing to be built around acceptance, celebration and inclusion. That phenomenon brings with it a new kind of expression within the LGBTQ and autistic communities. The 800-lbs. gorilla in all this is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which has published guidelines supporting the LGBTQ and autism communities. It isn't perfect, but it is reaching out to partner with the LOVELOUD Foundation and Imagine Dragons concerts worldwide. They are certainly not taking their marching orders from outside groups like Autism Speaks.
Exacting research data is loose at this time, and is largely because of the FtM trans* individuals tipping the balance. But, certain research points out that, among LGBTQ autists, the phrase "gender and sexual 'differences'" is an accurate description across the LGBTQ and autism spectrums showing disproportionate rates throughout.
The LGBTQ autism coming-out process has already been described well in media:
“Autistic and Queer: Coming Out on the Spectrum”
<http://www.afterellen.com/people/424935-autistic-queer-coming-spectrum>
“Coming Out As Gay Was Easy -- Coming Out As Autistic Was Hard”
<https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/coming-out-as-gay-was-easycoming-out-as-autistic-was_us_580a3c15e4b0b1bd89fdb157>
“Coming Out on the Autism Spectrum”
<http://thelwire.blogspot.com/2012/09/coming-out-on-autism-spectrum.html>
I see this all as a fascinating development. Of course, it will change. But, the LGBTQ community has changed before by accommodating each of its demographic groups in turn. This time, I am sure, we will consider and discuss this latest change, accommodation and inclusion. As one of the largest subgroups between the two groups, LGBTQ autists have always been a part of one or both groups, but now we have good reason to see why.
_________________
Diagnosed in 2015 with ASD Level 1 by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic using the ADOS-2 Module 4 assessment instrument [11/30] -- Screened in 2014 with ASD by using the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre AQ (Adult) [43/50]; EQ-60 for adults [11/80]; FQ [43/135]; SQ (Adult) [130/150] self-reported screening inventories -- Assessed since 1978 with an estimated IQ [≈145] by several clinicians -- Contact on WrongPlanet.net by private message (PM)
Last edited by AspieUtah on 19 Aug 2018, 10:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
19 Aug 2018, 10:43 am
They were surprised to discover just how many they had, and are now taking steps to better accommodate them as part of their workforce.
Yep. that is the new big "thing" with big business. Specialisterne <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specialisterne> and Microsoft <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft> are enjoying the benefits of some very qualified workers.
_________________
Diagnosed in 2015 with ASD Level 1 by the University of Utah Health Care Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic using the ADOS-2 Module 4 assessment instrument [11/30] -- Screened in 2014 with ASD by using the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre AQ (Adult) [43/50]; EQ-60 for adults [11/80]; FQ [43/135]; SQ (Adult) [130/150] self-reported screening inventories -- Assessed since 1978 with an estimated IQ [≈145] by several clinicians -- Contact on WrongPlanet.net by private message (PM)
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