Across the Rainbows:
The intersection of neurodiversity and gender nonconformity 

Oftentimes, a gender non-conforming individual will differ from the norms in more ways than one. Statistics show that neurodiverse people tend to be gender non-conforming at a much higher rate than their neurotypical peers. Likewise, the inverse is also true, that gender non-conforming people show neurodiverse traits at a much higher rate than their cisgender peers. This overlap is especially true for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD, formerly referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, sometimes referred to as ADD). A term sometimes used to refer to those that fall into both categories is “double rainbow”, due to existing on multiple spectrums.

The relationship between autism and gender is often complicated and poorly understood. Part of the lack of understanding stems from the tendency of researchers to pathologize autistic traits. Much like how gender and sexual variance were stigmatised and seen as requiring “treatment'' in the past, many in the neurodiverse community find themselves pressured into conforming to the “norms” of society. Xenogendered identities are almost solely found in neurodivergent individuals, and almost universally mocked or discredited. The little research there is on these atypical presentations is filtered solely through a neurotypical perspective that often wants to “correct” instead of understand and include. The primary argument against the validity of xenogenders can seemingly be summarized as “gender is a construct; since there is no way to prove others experience it differently, atypical versions of the construct are rejected”.

The neurodiverse are already at a higher likelihood to have mental illnesses and to self-harm. Add in gender diversity and the risks only increase. Gender identities outside of the norm often cause social ostracisation. The tendency to reject non-conformity by society causes immense harm to the gender- and neuro-diverse population for effectively no reason, and leads to increases in self-isolation, depression, and suicide. Paired with that, there is a woeful lack of support for those in need.