Tessa Watkins, the human behind Just 1 Voice, was a speaker at the TransPride YOUniting 2023 Health & Wellness Conference, hosted by TransYOUniting and TransPride PGH. Their talk is titled “Double Rainbows: The Fascinating Connection Between Autism and Gender Identity” and was live-streamed on Saturday, October 7th, at 9:15am EDT.
From neurodivergent to gender divergent, take a deeper look with Tessa about the interplay in the autistic brain of people who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming. This discussion will offer new perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and pave the way for a more inclusive and empathetic society through the courage and strength that radiates from the lives of those who dance among the rainbows.
This presentation was accredited for Continuing Education Credits (AMA, APA, AAPA, AANC) for live-stream attendance only. This session was recorded, but recordings are not eligible for Continuing Education Credits.
The TransPride YOUniting Health & Wellness Conference is held annually in October. This conference seeks to be a beacon of hope by bringing together community, professionals, families, educators, allies, advocates, and supporters and rallying against these issues by centering the lives and lived experiences of the transgender, gender diverse, and gender non-conforming people. We strive to bring these communities together in a space of mutual learning through shared perspectives and experience.
If you have any comments, questions, concerns, please reach out to the event organizers at TransPride.HW.Conference@gmail.com.
Presentation Sources
Below are the sources, references, and media credits that were used and/or discussed in the presentation.
References
- Laura Dattaro, “Largest study to date confirms overlap between autism and gender diversity” (Sept. 14, 2020). Spectrum News.
- Jody L. Herman, Andrew R. Flores, and Kathryn K. O’Neill, “How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States?” (Jun. 2022). UCLA Williams Institute.
- Lesley McClurg, “Transgender and nonbinary people are up to six times more likely to have autism” (Jan. 15, 2023). NPR.
- Eric Garcia, “The ‘QAnon Shaman’s’ lawyer blames autism for his client’s Jan. 6 actions. Here’s how wrong he is.” (May 19, 2021). NBC News.
- Wenn Lawson, “Gender Discomfort and Autism” (Jun. 2023). Autism Research Institute.
- Sara E. McHenry, M.D., M.B.A., ““Gay Is Good”: History of Homosexuality in the DSM and Modern Psychiatry” (Sept. 8, 2022). The American Journal of Psychiatry.
- Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD, “Autism History” (Feb. 26, 2019). News-Medical. AZoNetwork.
- Sean Cohmer, “Early Infantile Autism and the Refrigerator Mother Theory (1943-1970)” (Aug. 19, 2014). The Embryo Project Encyclopedia.
- “Individuals with Autism at Substantially Heightened Risk for Injury Death” (Mar. 21, 2017). Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Maureen Bennie, “The Three Main Causes of Early Death In Autism” (Apr. 18, 2016). Autism Awareness Centre Inc.
- Joseph Guan, Ashley Blanchard, Carolyn DiGuiseppi, Stanford Chihuri, Guohua Li, “Homicide Incidents Involving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Victims Reported in US News Media, 2000-2019” (Jun. 22, 2020). Research Square.
- Jason Rafferty, MD, MPH, EdM. FAAP, “Gender Identity Development in Children” (Sept. 18, 2018). American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Vanessa LoBue, “When do children develop their gender identity?” (Mar. 29, 2016). The Conversation.
- Kenny Walter, “Mortality Rate Much Higher for Transgender People” (Sept. 3, 2021). HCP Live.
- Rajiv Bahl, “Autism May Be Revealed During Fetal Brain Scans” (Apr. 5, 2022). Healthline.
- Ashley Welch, “Rate of Suicide 3 Times Higher for Autistic People” (Jan. 19, 2021). Healthline.
- Leann Smith DaWalt, Jinkuk Hong, Jan S. Greensberg, and Marsha R. Mailick, “Mortality in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Predictors over a 20-Year Period” (Feb. 28, 2019). National Library of Medicine.
- Max Roser, Esteban Ortiz-Ospina, and Hannah Ritchie, “Life Expectancy” (Oct. 2019). Our World in Data.
- Arianne Garcia, “Yeah I’ve Thought About It: Autism and Suicide” (Jun. 4, 2017).
- David Mills, “Why People with Autism Die at a Much Younger Age” (Apr. 1, 2016). Healthline.
Media Credits
- Slide 2, photo of Tessa’s family by Michael Swenson, Washington Post.
- Slide 4, original video by Paul “Bear” Vasquez, songified by The Gregory Brothers (@schmoyoho).
- Slide 6, Julie Sauerwein, “The SOGIE Spectrum” (Jun. 11, 2021). Little by Little Studio.
- Slide 7, original audio by Lauren Levi, “Infinite Gender Cube” (Oct. 8, 2022).
- Animation by Bad Radish Motion Design.
- Slide 19, green summer background photo by Dmytro Tolokonov on Unsplash.
