Correlation doesn’t necessarily equal causation, but that doesn’t stop authorities from trying to link autism and transgenderism.
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) sounded the alarm in April when it announced that all young people experiencing gender dysphoria would be tested for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and ADHD, to determine “whether their symptoms are caused by autism.” telegraph paper.
The decision has been criticized for treating transgender and autistic people as something to be eradicated rather than accepted. The LGBT+ Liberal Democrats, the UK’s Liberal Democratic Party organization, said in a statement that the proposal “exposes two groups who deserve NHS protection – transgender children and autistic children – to pathology by attempting to strip them of their bodily autonomy.”
Transgender people are more likely to have autism, but there is no evidence that autism makes people transgender. Here’s everything we know so far about it.
Is autism associated with gender dysphoria?
It is true that transgender and non-binary people are more likely to have autism. Transgender and gender-diverse people are about 3 to 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than cisgender people, according to a 2020 study study Published in “Nature” magazine.
Other studies have found that people with autism are more likely to be LGBTQ+ overall. 2021 report Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that cisgender autistic men were 3.5 times more likely to identify as bisexual than non-autistic men, while autistic women were three times more likely to identify as lesbian than non-autistic women.
Why are autistic people more likely to be transgender?
Transgender people are more likely to be diagnosed with autism, but there is no evidence to suggest that one causes the other. Autism, like gender dysphoria, does not have a single cause, but is thought to result from multiple genetic, biological, and environmental factors. american brain foundation. (And no, it’s not caused Also by vaccines. )
Some research suggests that higher rates of gender dysphoria in people with autism may be due to differences in hormonal and sexual characteristics. According to some researchers, men with autism tend to have higher pitched voices. study Another study at the National Library of Medicine found that women with autism have increased facial masculinity. study In nature.
What did RFK Jr. say about children with autism?
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hosted a press conference on April 16th that drew widespread criticism for making several false statements about autism, including claiming that autism not only “destroys families” but also that it is “an individual tragedy.”
“These are kids who never pay taxes, never have a job, never play baseball, never write poetry, never go out on a date. Many of them never use the bathroom without assistance,” he says, adding, “Currently, most cases are severe. Twenty-five percent of children diagnosed with autism are nonverbal, not potty trained, and have other stereotypical characteristics.”
What can be done for people with autism?
The vast majority of autistic people are perfectly capable of communicating, holding jobs, and falling in love, but even if they aren’t, they still deserve respect. Many people with autism have learning disabilities and physical disabilities, but most of these are not directly caused by autism.
According to the 2024 survey results, only about 10.1% of parents of children with autism classified their child’s autism as “severe.” study In a study by researchers at the University of Utah and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, only 38 percent of those in the “severe” group also reported “severe” learning disabilities. Around 67 per cent of people in the ‘severe’ category had difficulty bathing and dressing, compared to less than 7 per cent of all people with autism.
A Cambridge University report found that more than 70 per cent of autistic men and 76 per cent of autistic women were sexually active, and another report found that around 61 per cent of autistic adults were employed. study Located at the National Library of Medicine.
Can autistic people be transgender?
The majority of autistic people are fully self-actualized and can experience gender dysphoria and make decisions to change their gender. Autism is a widespread condition that varies from person to person, but is primarily associated with difficulties in socialization rather than difficulties in understanding human nature.
Paris Kim, the woman who came out as bisexual on Netflix A reality dating show for adults with autism. love on the spectrumsaid earlier defender There’s nothing wrong with being autistic, LGBTQ+, or both.
“Some people say, ‘I’m confused,’ or ‘My sister is a bad influence.’ No, this is who we are and we don’t need to change who we are,” she said. “There are more of us in the world than you think, and that’s just some of us.”
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
