Autism and 2SLGBTQ+ Identities: Understanding the Overlap

At Rainbow Counselling, we often meet people who carry more than one important identity. For some, that includes being both autistic and part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. If this is you, you might already know that the world doesn’t always make it easy to hold both identities with pride. Our hope with this post is to share what the research says, offer some reflections, and let you know that there is safe, affirming spaces where all of who you are is welcome.

What the Research Shows

Research consistently tells us that autism and gender diversity overlap much more than many people realize.

Autistic people are three to seven times more likely to identify as transgender compared to non-autistic (allistic) people.

Autism occurs in about 1% of the general population, but close to 8% of the trans population.

These numbers don’t mean that autism causes gender diversity (or vice versa). What they tell us is that many people live at this intersection, and their experiences deserve to be understood and supported.

Why Might This Happen?

There isn’t one single explanation. Instead, researchers and community voices have suggested a few possibilities:

Social awareness: Many autistic people are less invested in following rigid social “rules,” like gender binaries. That can open the door to exploring gender identity with more freedom.

Unique traits: Traits like sensory sensitivity and strong pattern recognition, common in autism, may influence how someone relates to their body and identity.

For many people, autism and gender identity are separate but connected; autism doesn’t define gender, but it can shape how gender is understood and expressed.

Challenges of Living at This Intersection

While this overlap is beautiful and meaningful, it can also be hard. Autistic trans people often describe feeling caught between communities:

In autistic spaces, they may feel misunderstood or dismissed because of their gender identity.

In 2SLGBTQ+ spaces, they may feel left out because of differences in communication or social style.

This sense of “not quite belonging anywhere” can take a toll. Studies show higher rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among autistic trans people. Barriers with executive functioning (like planning, organization, or managing paperwork) can make it harder to access gender-affirming care, adding even more stress.

And sadly, some families, friends, and even professionals dismiss the identities of autistic people; saying things like “you’re just confused” or “that’s just part of your autism.” This invalidation can be deeply painful.

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Autism and 2SLGBTQ+ Identities: Understanding the Overlap

If you have both Autism and ADHD (also known as AuDHD), you might have noticed that navigating your gender identity comes with unique challenges and insights. Maybe you feel conflicted about your relationship with gender, or maybe you’ve been exploring what gender means to you for a while. Wherever you are in your journey, your experience is valid.

In this post, I’ll explore how living with both Autism and ADHD might impact your relationship with gender and how therapy can support you in connecting more deeply with your body and identity.

The Unique Experience of Navigating Gender Expansiveness with AuDHD

Having both Autism and ADHD can create a unique lens through which you experience the world, including your understanding of gender. On one hand, you may feel disconnected from or question societal norms and expectations around the gender binary. This can be freeing and open up possibilities for gender expansiveness. On the other hand you may experience impulsivity, hyperfocus, or difficulty in managing the nuances of gender exploration.

For example, you might spend hours researching gender identity, reading everything you can find, and thinking about how you want to present yourself. But when it comes to taking the next steps—whether that’s experimenting with clothing or even accessing gender-affirming care—challenges with executive functioning might make those tasks feel overwhelming or hard to start.

This combination of deep introspection from Autism and the impulsivity or difficulty with follow-through from ADHD creates a unique path to gender exploration. It’s okay to feel both empowered and overwhelmed at times. Therapy can help you unpack these feelings and offer strategies for moving forward in a way that feels manageable.

Executive Functioning & Gender Exploration
Executive functioning—skills like organizing, planning, and managing time—might be a struggle for you if you have ADHD, Autism, or both. If you find it difficult to plan out your steps toward gender exploration or taking action on gender-affirming care, that’s totally okay. These steps are often overwhelming and can come with a lot of mental load.

Your journey doesn’t need to be linear or follow any particular timeline. It’s perfectly fine if you’re unsure of your next step or if things feel messy right now. A therapist can help you break things down into more manageable steps, and together, you can figure out what feels most important to you in your exploration.

Emotional Regulation & Gender Dysphoria
Emotional regulation might be another challenge if you have AuDHD. If you experience gender dysphoria (feeling discomfort or distress related to your gender), it can bring up intense feelings like anxiety, frustration, or sadness. These emotions may be harder to manage if emotional regulation is already tricky for you. On the flip side, gender euphoria—the joy of feeling aligned with your gender—can feel even more powerful and affirming.

Learning to manage the highs and lows is important, and working with a therapist can help you develop tools to feel grounded and present during those emotional waves. This can give you more room to experience your gender in ways that feel affirming, while also holding space for the emotional complexities that come with it.

How Therapy Can Help You Tune Into Your Body
If you’ve ever found it hard to connect with your body or understand what it’s telling you, you’re not alone. Many people with Autism and ADHD experience challenges with interoception—the ability to understand and feel what’s going on inside their body. This can make it difficult to tune into things like hunger, thirst, or even feelings of gender dysphoria or euphoria.

Therapy can help you improve interoception by teaching you how to reconnect with your body. This might mean learning to notice the subtle ways your body responds to different experiences, such as moments of gender euphoria or discomfort. Over time, this awareness can help you feel more in tune with your gender and how it shows up in your body.

Your Journey is Yours
If you’re feeling conflicted about your gender identity and how your AuDHD might be impacting this journey, remember that there’s no “right” way to explore your gender. Your path is unique, and there’s no set timeline for figuring things out. AuDHD might bring its own set of challenges, but it also brings strengths—like creativity, deep introspection, and hyperfocus—that can support you on your path.

At Rainbow Counselling, we’re here to support you as you navigate these intersections in a way that feels true to who you are. If you’re ready to explore how therapy can help you on this journey, we invite you to book a consultation with one of our team members, or submit our online form to be matched with a therapist on our team!

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