Background: Being nonheterosexual and noncisgender appears to be more common among autistic people. This intersection of identities is often stigmatized in research and society. However, we know that community involvement can protect against negative mental health outcomes associated with being a minority; researchers found this effect in separate studies examining participation in the autistic and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual plus other gender and sexual orientation-based identity (LGBTQIA+) communities. This study examined how autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals navigate their multiple marginalized identities and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Methods: Twelve autistic LGBTQIA+ people from the United Kingdom took part in semistructured interviews. Questions focused on identity and community. We analyzed the interviews using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: We identified four overarching themes-Identity (Re)Development, Navigating Authenticity, Exclusion from Community Spaces, and Creating Change. Participants viewed accessing a community of similar others as a means of increasing understanding, self-knowledge, and self-acceptance. We identified several barriers to inclusion, including accessibility and gatekeeping. Participants discussed strategies to combat these obstacles, such as the creation of intersectional community spaces and activism and representation as a means of increasing autism understanding.
Conclusions: This study suggests that similar to other marginalized groups, autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals are motivated to engage in communities relevant to their identities. However, community spaces for autistic LGBTQIA+ are often inaccessible due to social, sensory, and identity-based barriers. Participants highlighted autism understanding as a barrier to coming out both in community and noncommunity settings. This suggests that improving autism acceptance and understanding is crucial to achieve accessible, intersectional, and inclusive community spaces.
Keywords: LGBTQIA; accessibility; autism; community; identity; inclusion.
Why is this an important issue?: Autistic people are more likely to be part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual plus other gender- or sexual orientation-based identity (LGBTQIA+) communities. Being part of a community may boost well-being. Because of a history of viewing autistic and LGBTQIA+ identities in a negative medicalized way, we have limited understanding of autistic people's experiences of having both identities and being part of both communities. We think everyone could listen and learn more from autistic LGBTQIA+ people and think about ways of creating accessible spaces where autistic LGBTQIA+ people can flourish.
What was the purpose of this study?: We looked at autistic LGBTQIA+ people's experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. We were also interested in understanding how autistic LGBTQIA+ people experienced their different identities (e.g., being both autistic and LGBTQIA+, and how these connect).
What did the researchers do?: We developed interview questions with a trans autistic collaborator. The questions were about experiences and identities as an autistic LGBTQIA+ person and getting involved in communities. We did interviews with 12 LGBTQIA+ autistic adults from the United Kingdom, who were diverse in age, gender identity, and sexuality. We then identified patterns in what the interviewees said.
What were the results?: Interviewees talked about how they had made sense of “who they were” over time and tried to be true to themselves. However, they mentioned many barriers when trying to access the LGBTQIA+ community. These barriers included community spaces that were overwhelming in social and sensory ways. Although nonautistic LGBTQIA+ individuals might welcome autistic people into the community, they did not really understand autism. Interviewees were also concerned about “gatekeeping,” which means that some LGBTQIA+ community members decided who belonged in the community. Despite these barriers, interviewees still wanted to be part of LGBTQIA+ communities and suggested solutions, such as flexible online spaces, more autistic LGBTQIA+ role models, and fighting for change in society.
What do these findings add to what was already known?: These findings help us to better understand a topic there is not much research on—the experiences of autistic LGBTQIA+ people. Our findings tell us about how our interviewees came to appreciate their different identities, and the benefits and challenges of being included in LGBTQIA+ communities.
What are potential weaknesses in the study?: Our findings reflect the experiences of a small group of people in the United Kingdom, so their experiences will not apply to everyone. Our group lacked diversity in some ways—all interviewees were White and no one reported having a co-occurring learning disability. We do not know how our findings would apply to people with other minority identities.
How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?: This study helps us better understand the experiences of autistic LGBTQIA+ people and the barriers they face. Community spaces specifically for autistic LGBTQIA+ could be good, to help people explore their identities and find similar people. These spaces need funding, and we must make sure that they are accessible to everyone, regardless of how they identify.
Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.