Do you think autism is like being gay?

No... the two are nothing alike, I don't see why they would be compared. Neither are bad, but seriously.

Being gay = liking the same gender
Being autistic = having a disorder that puts you at a disadvantage to certain things such as motor skills, communication, etc.

Though the concept of outing people and being unaccepted/bullied may be similar with the two, but saying being gay is like having autism is like saying atheists and satanists are alike. To a certain extent there could be a similarity, but overall, the differences are far too great to be comparable.

 

They are not the same at all. I think autistic people are just disadvantaged in a different way. LGBT people still have a lot of the same opportunities in life such as careers, education, (in some cases) spouses, and what not. Autistic people are probably less "hated", but it's just a different type of stigma that exists with autistic people than exists with the LGBT community. They are also just disadvantaged in different ways.

 

I'd have to say no. One is considered a disorder that affects how one functions and the other is simply another variance of human sexuality that's not a disorder.

I think being left-handed would be more similar to being gay. Approximately 10 percent of the world is predominantly left-handed and (although depending on the survey and people's willingness to identify as LGBT in a survey) approximately 10 percent of the population is LGBT (maybe not as high, but close).

Both aren't choices. Both aren't disorders. Being left-handed in no way affects how a person functions in life anymore than being gay would. Both are harmless; it's just different.

 

Hi!!! Lefty here!!! Yeah..... I really hate can openers....

 

As someone who's both Aspergers and gay, the two combined present their own unique sets of challenges, but they're not alike at all.

 

I think yes. Because if you're friends who are autistic say it then it must be true. I'm not autistic but I can only take the word of someone who is and their experiences. I think some people can say it's not because maybe some don't have autism.. I don't know if they do or if they don't.

 

Nope.

 

Homosexuality actually does work in a similar way as being left handed. In fact, gay people are statistically more likely to be left handed.

 

Potentially, if they didn't want other people to know and were hurt by other people finding out without [I'm assuming 'outed' is by someone else] allowing that person to tell others.

 

I would again say no. Often times, people out others as autistic to give someone a "heads up" so they're prepared to meet someone who's autistic. I don't think people normally mean it in a harmful way, but if it is harmful then it's usually unintentional. However, there are a variety of reasons someone would out another person as gay, and many of those reasons could be malicious. Given the stigma against the LGBT community, it's probably worse to be outed as gay than to be outed as autistic.

 

In a way, yes. I think it would be. I've known people with Aspergers and high-functioning Autism before- and I've seen how other people have treated them. I know this is purely anecdotal but still.

I knew this guy who had some degree of autism and he told his friends and they were like "Really? Because you're not like "full retard" like *insert name* (someone who also has autism in my old class)" I was sat near him and I cringed so hard at that statement.

I think it's similar to a degree in the fact that they have to deal with misconceptions and possible exclusion from groups. The whole "You're X so you must be Y as well" kind of statements that someone may receive after coming out or comments like "But... you can't be a lesbian, you're too pretty!" or "You can't be bisexual, you're a man!" I think might apply in some cases where someone "comes out" as having some degree of autism. I would imagine that "How do you not know the answer to W? Aren't you supposed to have Aspergers? Doesn't that mean you know everything?" would be a common misconception.

Or at least, that's what I'd imagine it'd be like....

 

I wouldn't really call this true. Having autism can be a stigma of It's own and I have seen a lot of people who were bullied and beaten up for having autism (especially in middle/high schools). Even if there's no risk of bullying, a person may not want to be treated or seen as the "autistic" kid because they are treated as if they are mentally retarded and can't be their own person.

Personal experience, but I knew a lesbian with autism once who was out as both. The bullying of her autism got so bad -from both students and teachers- that she dropped out of high school by her Mom's command, who then had to get a lawyer involved. Nobody even said anything about her homosexuality. Of course, gender may have something to do with it. Male homosexuality is a bigger stigma, while autism is considered a male disorder which can lead to different experiences. But the abuse and malice is still present.

 

Well I'm kinda autistic, and I haven't told anybody. I'm also pansexual and I haven't told anybody, so yes, in a way.

 

I would agree Autism is generally worse than being gay due to being a disability while nothing is inherently bad or wrong about being gay. THe only thing that really have in common is assholes and people who don't understand it can make it a nightmare to deal with.

 

No I think they're completely different.

 

I would say, any time someone tells another person a detail about someone without their permission, it's an outing of sorts, and all would be a betrayal of trust.