Gender and sexual identity - the difference
Gender identity is how you feel inside about being a man, woman, both, neither, or something else. Some people identify as the sex they were assigned with at birth, others don’t.
Sexual orientation is your sexual preference for people of the same sex, different sex, or both.
Sexual identity is the label that you might use to let others know who you are as a sexual being.
LGBTI+ sexual identity and orientation
Autism and gender identity
Young people with autism are more likely to be part of the LGBTQ+ community than those without autism.
This may be because autistic young people often:
- don't feel like they fit into traditional gender roles
- feel LGBTQ+ people face similar challenges in society
Questioning your gender
You may question your gender if your interests and social life do not fit with what society expects of your assigned gender.
You may feel that you:
- cannot identify with being just male or female
- identify with multiple genders
- have no gender (agender)
- are non-binary
Or, you may feel strongly that your gender is different to the sex you were assigned at birth. You may feel like this has affected the way you feel about your body.
Discomfort with your gender identity
If you experience discomfort with your gender identity, you may feel unhappy, lonely or isolated from other young people.
You may feel social pressure from your friends, classmates or family to act in a certain way that does not match how you feel. You may face bullying and harassment for being different. This may be affecting your self-esteem and performance at school.
Getting help
Gender identity issues are not a mental health condition or a disease. But if you're questioning your gender identity and you are struggling with your mental health, it's important to get help.
You could:
- speak to your GP about how you are feeling
- talk to an adult you trust, such as a parent, family member, or teacher
- look up support information for LGBTI+ people and family
- talk to autism charities such as As I Am, Irish Society for Autism, or ASPIRE