Many members of the autistic community are transgender, non-binary, and/or gender nonconforming. Many of us have unique experiences and perspectives of gender. Here are a few resources:
Overview
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Asperger/Autism by the Asperger/Autism Network – General overview of some of the ways autistic people experience their sexuality and gender identity.
Personal experiences
Gendervague: At the Intersection of Autistic and Trans Experiences – Lydia X. Z. Brown
How Our Society Harms Trans People Who Are Also Autistic – Katelyn Burns
Science
The Link Between Autism and Trans Identity – Article in The Atlantic on how autistic people who are trans may be prevented from accessing healthcare because of their neurological status. Interesting fact: “The study found that participants on the autism spectrum were 7.59 times more likely to “express gender variance.””
Living between genders: A in-depth study of research into gender variance and autism from Spectrum.
Autism Traits in Treatment-Seeking Transgender Adults (2018) – Autism Research Centre sponsored article looking at whether there is a correlation between trans people registered at Gender Identity Clinics and autistic traits.
Abstract:
“The present study aimed to compare prevalence of autistic traits measured by the self-reported autism spectrum quotientshort (AQ-short) in a transgender clinical population (n=656) matched by age and sex assigned at birth to a cisgender community sample. Results showed that transgender and cisgender people reported similar levels of possible autistic caseness. Transgender people assigned female were more likely to have clinically significant autistic traits compared to any other group. No difference was found between those assigned male. High AQ scores may not be indicative of the presence of an autism
spectrum condition as the difference between groups mainly related to social behaviours; such scores may be a reflection of transgender people’s high social anxiety levels due to negative past experiences.”
More background information one of the authors, Anna Nobili, who is doing her PhD on interpersonal issues for trans people transitioning: http://programme.exordo.com/epath2017/delegates/presentation/32/
Some autistic trans people to check out
Seranine Elliot, a musician, model, and activist: Bandcamp, Facebook
Alistair H, artist and activist: website (fr) YouTube (fr)
Asharah Saraswati/Art Twink, artist: Facebook, Instagram
Shain Neumeier, attorney, advocate: website, Twitter
s.e Smith, writer, editor: website, Instagram, Twitter
Lydia X. Z. Brown, advocate, organizer, writer: website, Facebook, Twitter