What is Gender Diversity?IN BRIEF
Several studies agree that autistic individuals are more likely to be part of the gender-diverse community. While the reasons are not yet fully understood, this could be because autistic people feel less social pressure to adhere to established norms.
An autistic person who does not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth may more easily embrace this aspect of their identity compared to a neurotypical person.
An autistic person who is also part of the LGBTQ+ community is at higher risk of experiencing discrimination in healthcare, employment, public services, and more, due to this dual difference. As a result, many neurodivergent queer individuals go undiagnosed and/or lack access to support.

Defining Gender Diversity
Gender Identity
Gender identity refers to the deep and personal sense of being male, female, neither, or both. This sense often emerges very early in childhood, sometimes as young as two years old.
Everyone has a gender identity. For most people, their gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth based on their physiological characteristics; these individuals are cisgender.
Gender Diversity
Gender diversity encompasses all the variations of gender that exist. It is a spectrum, much like autism. There are many ways to feel and express one’s gender.
All individuals who identify as gender-diverse are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The T and Q in the acronym specifically refer to trans and queer identities.
The term “queer” is a general term indicating that a person identifies outside the traditional gender identity system.
Some Statistics
It is difficult to determine the exact percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals, as significant taboos surrounding the topic still prevent us from getting an accurate picture.
- Depending on the sources, 10 to 18% of the general population is estimated to be part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Autistic individuals are 6 to 8 times more likely to be part of the gender-diverse community.
- A study examining the needs of gender-diverse autistic adolescents found that 70% expressed a need for medical care that took their identity into account, and 32% reported that their gender identity had been questioned because of their autism diagnosis.

Being Autistic AND Gender-Diverse
The Intersectionality of Two Identities
Autistic people may face discrimination due to their neurodivergence, and gender-diverse individuals may face discrimination due to their gender identity.
What about someone who is both autistic AND gender-diverse?
Important
Such individuals experience two forms of marginalization and discrimination, known as intersectionality.
- In general, LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to receive the healthcare they deserve and, consequently, less likely to receive certain diagnoses (such as autism) and the corresponding care.
- Women and those assigned female at birth are often underdiagnosed when it comes to neurodivergence. This is partly because diagnostic criteria do not always account for how neurodivergence manifests in individuals socialized as girls, who often have a "quieter presentation" of traditional neurodivergent traits.
- Autistic LGBTQ+ individuals are also more likely to face mental health challenges. This risk is particularly significant for autistic trans individuals who may expect improved interpersonal relationships following their gender transition. They might be disappointed to find that their autism-related social difficulties persist.
In summary, discrimination in healthcare and public services (not to mention other areas of society) leaves many neurodivergent queer individuals undiagnosed and/or unsupported.
"... queer environments often do not take our sensory processing issues or social differences into account, while autism services rarely acknowledge that we may identify outside the gender binary or have queer relationships." "Why teach autistic girls how to apply makeup, dress femininely, and shop?" This implies: "Therapists, educators, and parents view these goals as important only because our society imposes strict gender norms."
Emily Brooks, autistic - Spectrum News
Important: Gender-Neutral Pronouns in English
In English, gender-neutral pronouns are often used to refer to individuals without specifying their gender. The most common is "they/them," which is widely recognized and used in both singular and plural forms.
Interesting Fact
Other neopronouns, such as "ze/zir" or "ey/em," are also used by some individuals to better reflect their identity. To determine which pronouns to use, simply ask the person about their preferences. Here’s an example of a sentence with the pronoun "ze": The other day, Jordan was telling a story. Ze ended by saying ze couldn’t remember the ending. We told zir it was brave to share the truth.
How Can We Do Better?
There are many ways to improve, whether as individuals or as a society. Staying informed, respecting individuals, and improving access to safe services are the most prominent solutions.
As an Individual
- Be an ally by respecting a person’s right to define themselves through their own gender identity.
- Create a safe space for LGBTQ+ people in your life by listening to their experiences, respecting them (using the correct name, pronouns, and agreements), and avoiding judgment.
- Speak up and create dialogue whenever witnessing homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination based on physical ability.
- Use films, podcasts, and YouTube videos to explore and celebrate the diversity of identities.
- Commit to continuous learning to understand and promote the culture of disabled individuals and LGBTQ+ communities.
- Be yourself. Celebrate others. Everyone has the right to be themselves in all communities.
"I didn’t want to focus on the question of gender. I didn’t identify with boys or girls, but I wished people would leave me alone about it and let me dress and cut my hair as I pleased. At the time, the parameters of identity were too rigid for me. If I had been able to explore diverse outward representations of gender earlier, I think I would have hated my body and appearance for less time. As an adult, I realize I would have loved to shift from a more masculine appearance to a more feminine one depending on my goals and needs for the day. At 46, now, I feel it’s too late, and my body no longer allows me to explore the look that would truly represent me 100%, with all my subtleties and facets. I feel a certain disappointment about this."
Valérie Jessica, autistic
As a Society
- Create more safe spaces. Safe spaces are designated environments where people can be free from danger and judgment. These can be offices, buildings, events, businesses, or even virtual spaces like online groups or courses.
- Create more spaces for self-exploration, where individuals feel safe and can share their experiences, fears, and solutions.
- Foster safe spaces for dialogue among individuals of all identities and spectrums.
- Improve knowledge about LGBTQ+ issues, neurodiversity, and promote self-determination for these individuals.
- Prioritize comprehensive sex education that includes intersections between neurodiversity and sexual and gender diversity.
- Practitioners, researchers, and medical experts working with autistic individuals must stay informed about the latest research and best practices in clinical support, taking the needs of the LGBTQ+ community into account.
To Learn More (French)
Want to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community?
Here are some relevant links:
References
- https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/autistic-individuals-are-more-likely-to-be-lgbtq
- https://bienetreautiste.com/blogs/infos/autisme-et-identite-lgbtqa
- https://aidecanada.ca/fr/resources/apprendre/%C3%A9ducation/LGBTQ2S
- https://other-autism.com/2023/07/08/season-3-kickoff-exploring-the-intersection-of-autism-and-non-monogamy/