LGBTQ+ People and Neurodiversity

Approximately 20% of the population is neuroatypical, meaning those on the autism spectrum or struggling with dyslexia and other developmental disabilities. This group has a higher proportion of non-heterosexual, asexual, transgender, or non-binary individuals than the general population.

Autism and Sexual Orientation: A study by George and Stokes (2018) found that 69.7% of adults with autism identified as non-heterosexual.

Asexuality: People with autism are approximately eight times more likely to identify as asexual compared to neurotypical individuals (2020).

Autism and Gender Identity: It is estimated that between 6% and 20% of autistic individuals may identify as non-binary or outside the gender binary. A 2020 study conducted by the University of Cambridge, involving a sample of over 600,000 people, found that transgender and non-binary individuals are three to six times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than cisgender individuals.

Furthermore, these individuals are more likely to exhibit autistic traits, such as difficulties with empathy, sensory oversensitivity, and a tendency to systematize. A 2019 study published in “European Psychiatry” found that 14% of transgender and non-binary individuals had been diagnosed with autism, and an additional 28% met the diagnostic threshold for autism, suggesting a high number of potentially undiagnosed cases.

Based on the training course by Dr. Anna Mach-Żebrowska, “An Inclusive University – How to Support People from the LGBTQ+ Community”