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LGBT people with autism

Discussion in 'General Support and Advice' started by Spaceface, Feb 8, 2019.

  1. Spaceface

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    Hey. I am Spaceface, and I am bisexual (but prefer guys) and I am also on the autism spectrum. It seems unusual that I am both LGBT and on the spectrum, so I'm posting this asking if there are any gay autistic people on here and I'd also like to know if it is as uncommon as I think it is. Thanks!
     
  2. Bouldghirl

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    As someone who has both friends and relatives on the autism spectrum I’d have to say that it may be uncommon but it certainly isn’t unique.I don’t think that your sexuality can be defined by your position on the spectrum but it can certainly affect who you are attracted to. As always it’s down to you.
     
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  3. Denial

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  4. Spaceface

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  5. Denial

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    You're welcome! It's hard being a double minority sometimes but love will win.
     
  6. Spaceface

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    Right you are there! :slight_smile:
     
  7. Meander

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    Bisexual dude from Indiana with ASD. I may slightly prefer women over men, but still LGBT as heck. If there's one thing where ASD really affects me, it's in developing relationships with anyone.
     
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  8. Spaceface

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    Same, luckily I have a boyfriend who is very supportive of me.
     
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  9. Revan

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    I am too! Nice to know I'm not alone (I knew I wasn't but still nice to see people actually "coming out" as it were as on the spectrum.)
     
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  10. Monraffe

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    I do think labels are important when a patient has a condition or disorder that needs a diagnosis so they can get treatment, but in highly functional people, labels do more harm than good. Basically, if you test positive for some thing and are also highly functional, in most cases this is really just a personal trait, not a condition. Certainly it can be a trait that contributes to to other problems the patient is having but in and if itself it is not a “condition.” Being queer is an example of a trait that is not a medical condition for most people. So autism spectrum disorder should not be confused with a lack of theory of mind skills, which is what most highly functional people who test positive for ASD actually have.
     
  11. Revan

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    Little confused about what you're getting at here? I have Aspergers but am high-functioning, are you saying I don't actually have Aspergers but just lack a theory of mind skills? Not trying to start an argument but more trying to interpret what you mean.
     
  12. Monraffe

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    Let’s say there are two traits, A and B, both of which cause people to be bad at spelling, but trait B had not been discovered yet. Psychiatrist might come up with a spelling test to diagnose people as having trait A when they actually have trait B. The biases that go along with trait A, which they don’t have, can make their life worse than if they were never diagnosed. If they don’t need treatment it’s better if we didn’t label them at all and just thought of them as bad spellers instead.
     
  13. Chip

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    There are plenty of LGBT people who are on the autism spectrum, including a handful of current EC members.

    Autism is a very hot topic right now, with a lot of interesting new research about it, and new approaches to treatment. I will disagree t with some previous commentary about the importance of appropriate diagnosis, as well as the notion that high-functioning people with autism don't warrant the label.

    By understanding the experiences you're having them (by collecting them together and finding a diagnostic label that's appropriate), it's much easier to get appropriate treatment, skill building, or other resources to minimize the impact. It is also easier to understand how you, individually, process and respond to things differently, which helps with adaptive strategies. There's nothing wrong with having the understanding and the tools/skills necessary to address and correct the deficiencies, and avoiding the label can also interfere with self-acceptance, which often leads to self-judgment.

    If you're interested in looking at an alternative view for at least one source of autism-spectrum disorders (particularly those on the high functioning end of the spectrum), there's an interesting book called "Reframe your Thinking around Autism" that frames it in a new context, based on the emerging polyvagal theory. This also provides a framework for treatment that has been shown in limited trials to be quite effective.

    But to your original question... autism as a diagnosis is increasing dramatically, and I don't think the incidence of autism in the LGBT community is any less than the incidence in any other population.
     
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  14. Spaceface

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    It seems like there's a sterotype that autistic people seem to be straight white men.
     
  15. Chip

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    That certainly isn't my experience. I've met plenty of autistic people of color, and a number of women as well, though it does appear (no data to back this up) that autism is more common in men.
     
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  16. Denial

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    Actually there is some data to back up more males being autistic.
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140227125236.htm
     
  17. Destin

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    It is - most developmental disorders are passed down on the X chromosome, and since guys only have one X they automatically have the disorder if they inherit a bad chromosome, while women have two X's so have a 50/50 chance of the good one balancing out the bad one which results in them not getting the disorder.
     
  18. Mark543

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    Bisexual and autistic right here :slight_smile:
     
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  19. Spaceface

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    So am I! :relaxed:
     
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  20. Lgbtqpride

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    I am not sure if I am autistic, But I know I am introvert.I am quiet around strangers. I was afraid of talking to adults when I was a kid. But I am not afraid of someone from my own age. I can keep quiet for the whole day without speaking to anyone in school. These had change when I start to grow older.