Autism and LGBTQ identities

Current research indicates that autistic people have higher rates of LGBTQ identities and feelings than the general population. A variety of explanations for the increased prevalence of LGBTQ identities have been proposed, such as prenatal hormonal exposure, which has been linked with sexual orientation, gender dysphoria and autism. Alternatively, autistic people may be less reliant on social norms and thus are more open about their orientation or gender identity. A narrative review published in 2016 stated that while various hypotheses have been proposed for an association between autism and gender dysphoria, they lack strong evidence. In a special issue of Autism in Adulthood, editors note that research support for autistic sexual minority studies is lacking.