Understanding Gender and Sexuality Diversity:

Gender Identity. This is how you feel and understand your own gender inside. It could be male, female, both, neither, or something else. It’s about who you are, not what your body looks like or what gender you were given at birth.

Gender Expression. This is how you show your gender to the world through things like clothes, hair, voice, or body language. You might dress in a way that looks more masculine, feminine, both, or neither. It’s your personal style and expression.

Sexual Orientation. This is about who you are physically or sexually attracted to. Some examples are gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, pansexual, or asexual. It’s about who you might want to be close to in a sexual way.

Romantic Orientation. This is about who you are romantically attracted to — who you might want to date or fall in love with. It’s separate from sexual attraction. For example, someone might not feel sexual attraction but still want a romantic relationship.

Respecting Pronouns and Chosen Names. Using the name and pronouns someone asks for (like he/him, she/her, they/them) is essential. It shows respect and helps people feel safe and valued. Using the wrong pronouns or names, especially on purpose, can hurt people and make them feel unseen.

Intersecting Identities. Some people belong to more than one group, like being both autistic and trans. These people might face extra challenges, like being misunderstood in both disability and LGBTQIA+ spaces. It’s important to see the whole person and respect all parts of who they are.

“Truth be told, if I can show up as my full self—autistic, trans, bi—and not be judged or dismissed, that’s when I know I’m safe to speak up,” Michael. Community consultation participant

Scenario:

Alex, a nonbinary autistic person, arrives for an appointment. Their intake form only has "Male" and "Female" options. When they ask for their pronouns to be used, the provider says, "That’s too confusing for me." An affirming provider will have a gender-inclusive intake form and use Alex’s correct pronouns without questioning them.

Common Barriers Faced by LGBTIQA+ Individuals:

Increased risk of mental health issues due to societal stigma.

Experiences of discrimination in healthcare and support services.

Lack of appropriate, affirming resources and service providers.

Scenario:

Jasmine, a 17-year-old autistic lesbian, shares that her previous therapist kept asking if she was sure she was gay because "autistic people struggle with social understanding." An affirming provider would validate Jasmine’s identity without pathologising her queerness.