Over the past six years, I have been working in earnest to find my place onthe LGBTQ+ spectrum. If you have been following my vlog this year after myrelapse in June, I had come cleanabout my sexual identity as aromanticasexual back in June. This coming out day will be special for me as I havefound what I believe is my final understanding of where my sexual identity isafter many, many years of being confused in regard to my sexual identity. WhileOctober 11th is National Coming Out Day, anyone is free to “come out” at anytime. It is a process by far and by me asserting this is one step closer in that process.

As an autistic person, as the rest of the world never made sense, nor did my sexuality. I had always been confused about finding where I fell in the rainbow spectrum of sexuality. Mind you, I said sexuality and not gender. These are different from what earlier versions of terminology lies.

The terms of gender and sexuality is where each person sees it. Ideally, there is no hate for each person’s understanding of belief or a reason to show hatred toward someone because they do not have the same belief as you do. In a world where everyone just wants to be respected for their different beliefs or the way that they are, it is important to never scold anyone for believing the way that they are. That is solely their decision. It has been a complicated undertaking to get where they are at the present day.

I try in earnest to stay neutral when it comes to sharing my thoughts on positions as it relates to gender and sexuality as I believe that you just do not go up to someone and ask them about such personal things. I have always felt that it should be kept to themselves as it relates to their own gender and sexuality. Yes, there are things such as pride events and things like that for those in the community to share that they belong on the rainbow spectrum.

However, in a world that is always changing its belief system on things, the main thing in all of understanding when someone comes out to you as their identity, it is best to remain calm and respectful because it took a lot for them to come to you with this information that could be detrimental to them. If you as the recipient of this information do not agree with what they have to say, then it is best to be respectful of their choice, even if you do not agree with them. The last thing that they want to do is feel hurt by hatred and harsh treatment that you give them.

It is important that autistic people feel safe because oftentimes they see the world differently and it can be dangerous out there. While they may not totally understand where they lie in under the LGBTQ+ umbrella it is for them to feel where they belong. It may take multiple times to find exactly where that place may be for them. Ultimately, support them, educate them and yourself in the meanings, mechanics, and dangers of what that sexuality or gender may be and be ready to advocate for both as the autistic person and if you are the one that is caring or supporting them in the process. It is a lot for them to process and by them not feeling supported, it only hurts them more by making them more confused as they are already experiencing so many challenges in the other realms of their life already.