Category: Trans and Autistic

  • Rejecting Academic Norms: Trans and Autistic Voices Matter

    Rejecting Academic Norms: Trans and Autistic Voices Matter

    I tried to write the positionality and reflexivity section of my PhD thesis today (the bit that tells the readers who I am and what lenses I see this work through). What I wanted to write is “I am trans, I am autistic, get over it”. I would love to say this, but of course…

  • 2024 in Review: Advocacy Work and Community Connections

    2024 in Review: Advocacy Work and Community Connections

    2024 was another very busy year for me and a very turbulent time for many of us worldwide. In the UK political violence towards transgender people, disabled people and other marginalised groups has continued to grow. The ban on puberty blockers for all transgender young people is the most recent attempt to bring us down.…

  • Open Letter Against Puberty Blocker Ban

    Open Letter Against Puberty Blocker Ban

    The team at AIM for the Rainbow have written an open letter airing our concerns about the puberty blocker ban. The open letter at a glance: The Autistic community widely and with great indignation condemns the recent ban on puberty blockers for transgender youth and demands its immediate reversal. We call on the government to…

  • Trans and Autistic: Applying for PhD

    Trans and Autistic: Applying for PhD

    Applying for a PhD as an autistic transgender person involves navigating ableism, transphobia, paperwork challenges, and the search for affirming supervisors. Rejection can be emotionally taxing, and universities should improve application processes. Autistic trans applicants should utilize available resources, advocate for themselves, and have backup plans. Selecting understanding supervisors is crucial.

  • An outline of my PhD on transgender Autistic experiences

    An outline of my PhD on transgender Autistic experiences

    I’m very excited to start my PhD studentship at University of Portsmouth funded by South Coastal Doctoral Training Partnership. I shall be in the school of psychology, doing my own research on: Exploring health and social care inequities for transgender and gender diverse Autistic adults living in the UK. I am really happy to say…

  • Trans and Autistic: Power at the intersection

    Trans and Autistic: Power at the intersection

    Gender expression and identity, under colonialism, is considered as binary, either masculine or feminine, but some people fall somewhere along – or outside of – the spectrum of gender. Trans and gender diverse identities (as well as cultural ‘third genders’ such as two-spirit) exist more frequently in Autistic communities than in non-Autistic communities. Many Autistic…

  • Trans and Autistic: Living in two closets

    Trans and Autistic: Living in two closets

    The overlap of Autistic and LGBTQIA+ identities is a growing topic of conversation especially for those of us who occupy both spaces, and there are lots of us! We are all at differing points in our neurodivergent and queer journeys, some of us are clear of who we are, some of us are confused, some…

  • Neurodivergent and queer: Coming out twice

    Neurodivergent and queer: Coming out twice

    As people who are both neurodivergent and queer, we have to make the continuous difficult decision of coming out. Who to tell, when to tell, how much to tell and what we want from revealing parts of ourselves. Keeping safe How do we know that who we are sharing our identities and our experiences with…

  • Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary Adults in Seeking Gender Identity Healthcare [plain language summary]

    Exploring the Experiences of Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary Adults in Seeking Gender Identity Healthcare [plain language summary]

    This blog gives you a summary of the work created by Harley Bruce, Katie Munday (me), and Steven Kapp. The aim of our study was to get a deep understanding of autistic transgender and/or non-binary adults’ experiences in accessing, or trying to access, gender identity healthcare. There are very few research articles which focus on…

  • Trans Aware Cancer Care: My reflections on the first workshop

    Trans Aware Cancer Care: My reflections on the first workshop

    The first session of Trans Aware Cancer Care happened last weekend at the Seacity Museum in Southampton, and it was brilliant! We spoke to 10 different people about their experiences of cancer services, and their experiences in life generally. We had some tears, and a lot of love and laughter too. TACC made some amazing…