AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY: CASE STUDIES FOR USE WITH CLINICIANS AND CLIENTS

This chapter provides an overview of the autism spectrum and highlights some ways autism may present among individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ). It focuses on an exercise to facilitate a conversation between clients and clinicians regarding intersecting identities, including those related to autism, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Those who identify as LGBTQ and autistic may face unique challenges as a result of their intersecting identities, which are important to consider in the context of clinical work. For instance, individuals with autism may face invalidation of their sexual orientation or gender identity because their capacity to understand their identities is considered to be dubious, or because their identity has been mislabeled as a fixation on gender identity or sexual orientation. Clients who are LGBTQ and autistic may also struggle with social isolation or finding spaces that are affirming of their multiple identities.