A common misperception of people with disabilities is that they are unable and/or disinterested in sex; however, research indicates that they express sexual desires and engage in sexual behaviors. Studies about the sexuality of people on the Autism Spectrum (ASD; on the spectrum), however, suggests they receive limited sex education and are more…

Camouflaging in autism spectrum disorder could be a factor in later diagnosis of individuals without co-occurring intellectual disability, particularly among those designated female sex at birth. Little research to date has examined how gender identity impacts camouflaging, however. Further, no study has compared groups that differ in diagnostic…

Forced sex is a major issue experienced by individuals of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations. Little is known about how LGBQ, transgender, and non-binary young people experience sexual violence. This study examines experiences of forced sex, exploring the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as how other…

Autistic people are more likely to be transgender, which means having a gender identity different to one's sex assigned at birth. Some transgender people experience distress about this incongruence or gender dysphoria. Few studies have aimed to understand the inner experiences of this group. In this study, we used Interpretive Phenomenological…

Cross-sectional research has demonstrated the overrepresentation of gender dysphoria in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder. However, the predictors and underlying mechanisms of this co-occurrence remain unclear. This follow-up study aimed to explore baseline (childhood/adolescence) predictors for the follow-up (adulthood)…

Sex education is critical for the development of healthy sexual identity and relationships. However, students with intellectual disability and/or on the autism spectrum often receive less holistic sex education in comparison to their neurotypical counterparts. A scoping review was undertaken to determine parents', teachers' and students'…

Background: The cognitive and behavioural profile associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) includes difficulties with social interaction, communication and empathy. Each of these may present barriers to effective participation in sexual offending treatment, leading to poorer outcomes. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with…

This study compared sexual orientation and romantic relationship experience in a large sample of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n = 675) and general population peers (n = 8064). Gender identity was explored in the ASD group in relation to assigned gender at birth. Compared to general population peers, more people with…

Literature has documented inflated rates of features associated with autism spectrum (AS) in clinic referred, gender diverse young people. This study examined scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) over time in a group of clinic referred, gender diverse adolescents accessing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues…

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) encompasses a range of autosomal recessive inherited enzyme deficiencies that impact cortisol biosynthesis pathways. Although reported as a rare and lifelong disorder, it holds chronic health risks for individuals that can influence menstruation. The purpose of this environmental scan and integrative literature…

High rates of gender variance have been reported in autistic people, with higher variance in autistic females than males. The social component of gender identity may be affected, with autistic females experiencing lower identification with and feeling less positively about their gender groups than controls. We measured gender identification,…

Laboratory research on sex differences in response to maternal immune activation: We investigated sex differences in molecular and behavioral responses to maternal immune activation during pregnancy. Epidemiological evidence indicates that immune activation during pregnancy impacts brain development, leading to increased incidence of…

Sexual minorities report poorer mental health relative to heterosexual counterparts, but this is underexplored in Latinx youth. This study compares internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors in Latinx adolescents with Same Sex Behaviors (LASSB) to their Latinx adolescent peers who did not report same sex behaviors (non-LASSB). It also…

Autistics are more likely than neurotypicals to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and other sexual orientations. Autistics and sexual minorities represent populations at high risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Little is known about the experiences of individuals living at this intersection. In this phenomenology, 67 individuals who…

Objective: This study seeks to examine the health disparities of sexual minority older adults. Method. We used a probability sample of adults older than 50 years in select U.S. regions from the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System with administration of the sexual orientation question (n = 350,778). Binary and…