McAuliffe, Walsh and Cage (2023)

Autistic people appear to be less heterosexual and cisgendered than their neurotypical counterparts. Queer Autistic people are often stigmatized in both research and society. Involvement in minority identity communities has the potential to protect people against negative mental health outcomes. This research explores how queer Autistic people from the United Kingdom navigate their multiple marginalised identities and the queer community. Semi-structured interviews, with a focus on identity and community, were undertaken with twelve queer Autistic people. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The authors identified four key themes: Identity (Re)Development, Navigating Authenticity, Exclusion from Community Spaces and Creating Change. The interviews found that the queer Autistic participants saw accessing their community as a means to increase understanding, self-knowledge and self-acceptance. The participants also discussed ways to navigate and combat barriers. The researchers found that inclusion, accessibility and gatekeeping hindered queer Autistic people accessing their community. Strategies to overcome these barriers include the creation of intersectional community spaces, activism and representation as a method of increasing understanding of Autism. The researchers discuss that whilst queer Autistics are motivated to engage with communities relevant to their identities, community spaces are often inaccessible. Sensory, social and identity barriers reduce accessibility, however understanding of Autism was listed as a core barrier when coming out in community and non-community settings. The Authors stress increasing Autism understanding is crucial for inclusive environments.

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