Full Description
"So while the assumption when I was born was that I was or would grow up to be a neurotypical heterosexual boy, that whole idea didn't really pan out long term."
In this candid, first-of-its-kind memoir, Laura Kate Dale recounts what life is like growing up as a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum. From struggling with sensory processing, managing socially demanding situations and learning social cues and feminine presentation, through to coming out as trans during an autistic meltdown, Laura draws on her personal experiences from life prior to transition and diagnosis, and moving on to the years of self-discovery, to give a unique insight into the nuances of sexuality, gender and autism, and how they intersect.
Charting the ups and downs of being autistic and on the LGBT spectrum with searing honesty and humour, this is an empowering, life-affirming read for anyone who's felt they don't fit in.
Contents
Prologue - Being LGBT and Having Autism is Actually Pretty Common; PART I - Life Pre-Transition & Diagnosis; 1. The Ignored Early Signs; 2. Being the Weird Kid; 3. The Teen Tipping Point; 4. Coming out the Closet; 5. Depression and Addiction; PART II - Living through Transition and Diagnosis; 6. Transition, and learning to read who I wanted to be; 7. Squeezing a Late Youth into Adulthood; 8. I'm Proud I'm Not Invisible; PART III - Life Post Transition and Diagnosis; 9. LGBT Spaces are not for Autistic Adults; 10. Transgender Conflicts and Autism; 11. Learning to Watch Your Friends Die; 12. Being a Trans Woman with Autism is Sometimes Pretty Rad; 13. Roller Derby: The Intersection of LGBT and Autism Friendly Group Sport; 14. Where do I go from here?; Further Resources
