Study finds high rates of autism in transgender and non-binary population

[Reallybadidea]

Another study confirming the association of trans and ASD. I thought the quotes from the author were very interesting, particularly his use of the phrase "born female" as opposed to "assigned female at birth".

eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-07/aru-sft071619.php

Even ‘born’ is too much of a concession; we have a sex from conception.

It’s especially relevant to admit this when talking about developmental disorders.

As someone who teaches children with autism, it's strikingly obvious to me how this link occurs.

What's incredibly worrying is that the NAS have someone writing for them advising that the gender identity of a yp with asd must absolutely be taken very seriously and as separate to their autism.

Which is fine if we are talking about self expression; not fine if we are entering medication pathways.

And not fine if we are saying you are literally the wrong sex.

It beggars belief that we rightly promote acceptance of all other disabilities, 'neurodivergences' and differences - celebrate the body an individual was born into, but not with gender ideology. 'It must be fixed!'

I really do wonder how much has been considered about the link between trans gender and mental health. There is a recognised link between suicide rates and trans people, but the assumption seems to be that they have mental health problems because they are trans, not accepted etc. Not that the need to change gender is a symptom of other underlying or undiagnosed conditions.

Sweeping generalisation here, but it's like fat people who think losing weight will make them happy.

My autistic DD says that the trans ideology is a eugenic movement to sterilise autistics, gays and lesbians with castration surgery and wrong sex hormones.
She’s being a tad dramatic, but I can’t argue that this won’t be the inevitable outcome if this isn’t stopped in its tracks.

It also horrified me when I was invited to a talk at one of the best schools for girls with ASD, which was given by someone with Autism who is a Transman.

I can see the logical path a girl with ASD would take. There are two in fact:

1. in this society male individuals seem to have all the power and get harassed less. I want to be less harassed and to be less conspicuous/have more power. Therefore I want to be male. And you say I can change my sex.
2. I like having short hair (it's easier to look after). I like wearing jogging bottoms and baggy t shirts. I don't like people looking at my body. I like Science/Maths/Mechanics. I don't like talking about feelings, I prefer more "transactional" conversations. This all sounds more like a boy - therefore I must be a boy.

My DD had her hair cut short this year, (into a style which was the norm for women in the 80s). She was on more than one occasion called a boy by substitute teachers. I actually had to make complaints to the school about it.

My autistic DD says that the trans ideology is a eugenic movement to sterilise autistics, gays and lesbians with castration surgery and wrong sex hormones. I half agree with your dd. I'm trying to give the whole movement the benefit of doubt in that when it first started this was not its primary or intended cause, but this is now going to be ultimate result. Autistics gays and lesbians are gonna be the ones disportionally affected. Indirect eugenics by the back door. I am so worried for asd ds but I'm already teaching him sex is immutable. More concern for my tomboy niece who is also asd who I think will more vulnerable to this shite, especially given that her dm doesnt see the inherent dangers of twaw.

@Babdoc - she’s not wrong. Why else would parents ‘prefer’ to have a trans kid than a gay one?

There is a recognised link between suicide rates and trans people

Is there? Do you have a link for that?

Autistic people have a higher rate of suicide and self harm, the issues are already there. I really don't understand why autistic charities are pushing the trans issue when it's so damaging to autistic kids.

‘A link’ - there is a link between (higher than average) suicide rates for teens, goths, bullied kids, people with MH issues...

There is also a link of high instances of trans and kids with autism. Isn’t that more interesting and relevant?

The much reported links between trans kids and high suicide stats have been exposed as lies.

Doesn't surprise me. The need to follow rules to define yourself, gives yourself a set of social rules on how to conduct yourself socially.

But honestly the neuropathways for autism are still little understood. It wouldnt surprise me if we eventually find physical differences, neural and chemical pathways for trans behaviour also.

I suspect gender and sex will be a whole lot more complicated than then we currently aknowledge.

"I really don't understand why autistic charities are pushing the trans issue when it's so damaging to autistic kids"

@Chocolate1984 very good point. It's the corporatist globalist neoliberal agenda to wipe out the family imho.

Which will never succeed, I may add!

They can attempt to corrupt the minds of some and succeed but in the long term, the traditional family will always win, even if that does mean an increasing minority of women having the majority of the babies (in the mean time). However, sooner or later globalism will die, it's already failing, all over Europe and the world people can see it isn't delivering on the utopia that was promised. Young people aren't buying it. The majority of people realise now the media is just a front to push their agenda and hence ignore it/laugh at it.

As the mother of an autistic child who has recently declared themselves transgender and is rigorously pursuing that path this is an issue heavy on my heart.

Just as an example; There can be a lot of sensory issues for children with asd as well as a love of sensory stimulating things.

So 'girls' clothes, hair, toys ready often soft, shiny, glittery, ribboned, flowy etc. Young boys with asd can be drawn to them (I've had direct experiences of several young boys with asd who loved these things.)

'Boys' clothes can be more practical and comfortable and easy to put on; girls with asd can prefer them - as Temple Grandin describes. This marks both groups of children out as different to the norm early on and favouring or disinterested in stereotypically gendered items and clothes.

All children are individuals though and all children with asd, but obviously a girl who loves the swishy glittery stuff 'fits in more.' A boy doesn't.

One extra thing though is that often pressured clothing can bring comfort and relief to people with autism; you can get pressured under garments and also a "bear hug" which is a tight Velcro chest band with shoulder straps.

These are usually OT directed / prescribed and part of a sensory diet. Temple Grandin invented a squeeze box to relieve tension that she'd get inside daily.

A friend noticed her son was very happy when wearing a wet suit not long before his diagnosis.

I can't help wondering if binders off the same relief for some girls.

Violet

I haven't read the whole thread but why is this in this forum? It's nothing to do with feminism or exclusively female related?

@VioletLeaf I'm so sorry.
I can relate a little. My son (also autistic) wanted to be a girl when he was in year 1. Wanted to wear a girls uniform to school (cried about it). I was deceived at the time thinking I could support him through it, I talked to my therapist about it (pnd). I allowed him to wear girls pj's. Yet something did not sit right with me. I knew 'society' was now supportive of this but I did not feel it was 'right' in my own mind. In the end, I sat him down and explained how the girl he liked in class would not be interested in him as a 'girl' and if he was a girl, then he wouldn't get to kiss a girl when he got older as they would want a boy to kiss and not a boy pretending to be a girl.

That thankfully sorted the whole thing out and he gradually quit wanting to be a girl.

He still is very fascinated with makeup etc but I'm quite firm with him now, saying that make up is for girls only.

I know this situation is different from yours. And I know how heavy this can weigh on your heart as you love your child. Yet, you can be loving and supportive whilst telling your child they are 100% perfect the way God made them. By supporting their fixation to trans is subtlety confirming to a child that there's something wrong with them.

There are pluses to your situation, in that your child is open and honest with you. When I was younger, I got strange thoughts and feelings that I wanted to be a man but I never had the courage to tell anyone. I know now, that it was a phase or an OCD fixation for me.

The media is pushing this agenda and the poor children have no idea that they are being played.

I believe the high number of girls referred to gd services who may also have asd and so do not conforming to gender stereotypes and also find it very hard to socialise with other girls and so feel
They don't fit in.

YouTube is a very common obsession for young people with asd for a range of reasons - often has many films on special interests or supports learning about the world. My niece who is autistic has learnt a lot more about "being a girl" from watching videos on YT which has supported her social skills actually.

But obviously YouTube has endless trans films and many de transitioned women have described falling down trans rabbit holes while seeking answers to why they don't feel they fit in.

For many they're lesbian and non conforming. For some they may also be autistic.

I don't find it hard to join dots and I do think this is part of a wider feminist concern regarding ROGD in young girls.

This thread / film shows a young woman with autism realising she isn't trans after all, does have issues with 'gender' and so far still binding. Using YouTube to describe this so undoubtedly uses YouTube/ tumblr etc.

Young detransitioner talks about why she isn't transgender www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3642040-young-detransitioner-talks-about-why-she-isn-t-transgender

This film is a conversation between two de transitioned women but describes how much online media played a part, not fitting in, not seeing themselves represented in the online media as anything other than a trans man. No lesbians or GNC women.

This is significant for children with autism as the online world is often an extremely huge part of their lives.

So yes, there is a significant link for me to ROGD/ girls/ asd. But also for young boys too, though the way "drag" is being marketed now I suspect more of these boys who are into the stereotypical girl stuff will begin to "come out" (hate that phrase) as drag interested rather than trans - certainly Desmond is amazing has autism.

Internalized Homophobia is More Powerful than You Know www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3642547-internalized-homophobia-is-more-powerful-than-you-know

Thank you everyone. Unfortunately my son is older (in his 20's) and so there is very little we can do or say. He thinks this is the root of all his anxieties etc, which will disappear once he transitions. We think he is making a terrible mistake, but we love him and will not stop loving or supporting him. His attitude towards us and the world has become very militant and hard about it all. It's incredibly difficult. We are grieving and struggling but expected to be upbeat and positive about it all. I don't know what the future holds, but it seems likely things will be very difficult.. and honestly? I'm scared. And ashamed of feeling this way.

@VioletLeaf are you ashamed of the shame you are experiencing about your son? If so, please don't be so hard on yourself. It really is not your fault (nor your son's fault). We really are being played by some very clever manipulative agenda. They've done their utmost to confuse vulnerable people in their attempt to destroy the family. Wishing you peace xx