Neurodivergent and Queer: Understanding the Overlap Between Neurodevelopmental Conditions and LGBTQIA+ Identities

Jun 19

In honor of pride month, I felt like this was an important topic of discussion. If you work in mental health or education—or you’re just a human who listens—you’ve probably noticed this trend: a lot of neurodivergent folks also identify somewhere under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. And it’s not just anecdotal.

As someone who works with neurodivergence (especially autism, ADHD, and sensory processing conditions), this isn’t surprising. And if you’re a therapist, educator, or healthcare professional, this is something you need to be aware of—because it has major implications for how we support, affirm, and understand people.

Let’s break it down.

1. So… Is There Actually a Link?

Yep. Research consistently shows that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as something other than cisgender and heterosexual. One large study found that transgender and gender-diverse identities were 3–6 times more common among autistic people than in the general population (Warrier et al., 2020). Similarly, another study found that autistic adolescents were more likely than non-autistic peers to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or pansexual (George & Stokes, 2018).

This doesn’t mean that being neurodivergent causes someone to be queer. It just means that there’s a pretty significant overlap—and we need to be prepared to support both identities at the same time.

2. Why Is There So Much Overlap?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but there are a few theories.

One idea is that neurodivergent people are less influenced by social conditioning. In other words, they’re less likely to adopt societal norms just because “that’s how it’s always been done.” That could make it easier for someone to explore and express their gender identity or sexual orientation outside the typical binary or heteronormative framework.

Another factor could be related to sensory processing. Some neurodivergent individuals experience discomfort with gendered expectations—clothing, body changes, or physical touch in ways that don’t align with who they are—which can bring gender identity into sharp focus early on.

And finally, when you’ve spent your life trying to “mask” or “blend in” as a neurodivergent person, you may become extra aware of how exhausting it is to live outside of your truth. Which makes living in your truth—whether that’s being autistic, bisexual, nonbinary, or all three—feel that much more essential.

3. Double the Identity, Double the Risk

Being LGBTQIA+ or neurodivergent already puts someone at increased risk for mental health challenges. But when a person lives at the intersection of both identities? That risk compounds.

Neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ youth are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bullying, and exclusion—both at school and within their own families (Strang et al., 2018). They often struggle to find spaces where they feel fully seen, understood, and accepted.

Imagine being a queer teen on the spectrum who’s constantly told to make more eye contact and wear a dress to church. Or an ADHD adult who finally figures out their sexuality in their thirties, only to be told they’re “just confused.” These kinds of invalidations add up, and we as professionals have to do better.

4. What This Means for Mental Health and Educational Providers

If you serve neurodivergent individuals, assume there’s a chance they may be exploring (or concealing) something about their gender or sexual orientation. That doesn’t mean you should make assumptions—but it does mean you should create an affirming space where that exploration is safe.

Here are a few small but meaningful ways to do that:

Use inclusive intake forms that allow for open-ended gender identity and pronoun questions.
Don’t assume heteronormativity in your examples or clinical discussions.
Understand that rigid gender norms and social expectations can be especially harmful for neurodivergent people.
Learn to spot masking—not just neurodivergent masking, but masking of gender or sexual identity, too.
Be willing to slow things down and use clear, non-judgmental language. For some clients, especially autistic ones, they may need time and space to define what their feelings mean.

5. We Can’t Afford To Miss This

Supporting neurodivergent LGBTQIA+ folks is not an “extra” or “niche” skill. It’s part of competent, trauma-informed, identity-affirming care. Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, nurse, or just someone who cares about people—you need to know that this intersection exists, and you need to be ready to honor it.

If you’re looking for a place to start? Ask questions. Use affirming language. Validate their lived experiences. And be willing to keep learning.

Because at the end of the day, everyone deserves a space where they can show up as their whole, authentic self—no masking required.

References:

George, R., & Stokes, M. A. (2018). Gender identity and sexual orientation in autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 22(8), 970–982. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317714587
Strang, J. F., Meagher, H., Kenworthy, L., de Vries, A. L., Menvielle, E., Leibowitz, S. F., ... & Anthony, L. G. (2018). Initial clinical guidelines for co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and gender dysphoria or incongruence in adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 47(1), 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1228462
Warrier, V., Greenberg, D. M., Weir, E., Buckingham, C., Smith, P., Lai, M. C., Allison, C., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2020). Elevated rates of autism, other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, and autistic traits in transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Nature Communications, 11, Article 3959. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17794-1

Amanda Russo