It’s Autistic Pride on Tuesday 18 June
Sarah Clark, our Specialist Family Support Worker from the Specialist Autism Family Support Service, has written a blog for parents and carers or professionals supporting young people with autism who identify as LGBTQ+. Sarah has a PGCert PGDip in Autism Studies.
Identifying as young, autistic and LGBTQ+ has, in the past been overlooked. Until recently there have been few LGBTQ+ specific resources in the autistic community.
Research from the University of Cambridge in 2021 suggests that autistic individuals are less likely to identify as heterosexual and more likely to identify with a diverse range of sexual orientations than non-autistic individuals.
The LGBTQ+ community are individuals who identify under the umbrella term LGBTQ+.
LGBTQ+ stands for:
- lesbian
- gay
- bisexual
- transgender
- queer or questioning
- ‘plus’ stands for other identities such as intersex, asexual, agender and pansexual.
If you are a parent/carer or professional supporting a young person with autism that identifies as LGBTQ+ it may help to be aware of the following:
- feeling confused about who they are,
- not feeling accepted for how they choose to identify because they are autistic,
- being afraid to tell people about their identity,
- not having a safe space to talk to other autistic LGBTQ+ individuals,
- struggling with social spaces designed for LGBTQ+ as they are not sensory friendly,
- having low self-esteem.
There is also lots of support that you can provide:
- Reassurance,
- Value the person as a unique individual,
- Be patient and empathetic,
- Allow for discussions,
- Advocate for your young person if necessary,
- Find local support for both you and your young person,
- Look at any adaptions or adjustments that may need to be made to support your young person.
Articles and Resources
SPARK for Autism | Autistic People More Likely to Identify as LGBTQ – Article
Autism and being LGBTQ+ – BeyondAutism – Article
Autistic individuals are more likely to be LGBTQ+ | University of Cambridge – Research
LGBTQ+ | Ambitious about Autism – Article
Downloadable resources | Ambitious about Autism
Local Support
Life Gets Better Together – Bromley, Croydon, Surrey (consortium.lgbt) 18+
Youth group for LGBTQ+ people aged between 16 and 25 in Bromley.
PRYZM LGBTQA+ – CASPA BROMLEY – 14+
National Support
Disabled and Neurodivergent LGBTQ+ Support | Stonewall
https://www.facebook.com/NAS-lgbtq-Online-Branch-100212775721915
lgbtqplus.onlinebranch@nas.org.uk – Online community where you can meet other individuals with autism from the LGBTQ+ community.
