(M) Pride Month: Neurodivergence & LGBTQ+ Identity Online Roundtable
Tuesday, June 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
This is a member event and not being ran by the Better Business Network themselves.
Recent research has confirmed what many of us neurodivergent folks already suspected — that people who identify as neurodivergent are far more likely to also identify as LGBTQ+.
🌈 A recent paper by the University of Cambridge found that autistic people are eight times more likely to identify as LGBTQ+.
🌈 The Brain Charity reports that in the wider neurodivergent community, significantly more people are likely to identify as LGBTQ+.
Perhaps this is because those of us who question our neurotype are more likely to question our gender and sexuality, or because as neurodivergent people we are less likely to adhere to social norms.
For those of us who diverge from or queer “typical” social norms, what does it mean to us to embrace our neurodivergent and queer identities and live authentically and proudly?
And for many of us who are late diagnosed, the experience of “coming out” as neurodivergent can feel very similar to our experiences of coming out as LBGTQ+ — how do we navigate that and all the potential emotions and vulnerabilities it can stir up?
In this roundtable especially for Pride month, Joyfully Different Co-Founder Alice Reeves is joined by Arlo West, a Trans & Non Binary EDI Consultant & Speaker, Graphic Designer and Founder of Studio Arlo, to explore:
What do the terms “neurodivergence” and “queerness” mean to us?
How was our experience of “coming out” as neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ different or similar?
What are the challenges of transitioning (whether NHS or privately) and disclosing a neurodivergent diagnosis?
How do we deal with people who make ignorant or misinformed comments about our queer and neurodivergent identities?
The event will last for 1 hour and 30 minutes, with rough timings as follows:
10 mins – Welcome and time to settle in
10 mins – Introduction
55 mins – Questions & Facilitated Discussion
15 mins – Closing comments, announcements & event end
Who is this session for?
Whether you identify as neurodivergent or LGBTQ+, you want to hear different perspectives, or you want to discover how to become a better ally to the neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ community, you’re invited to join us for this roundtable discussion.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 4 June 2024
Start Time: 18:00 BST
End time: 19:30 BST
Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration)
Cost: FREE to attend for members OR £5 to drop in
If you can’t attend live, don’t worry! A recording of the event will be made available to everyone who registers as well as our community members.
About Joyfully Different
Our mission is to make business joyful for neurodivergent founders. We’re a non-profit business community and learning hub for neurodivergent business owners, leaders and future founders. We believe self-diagnosis is completely valid – we aim to support everyone who needs us.
Want to find out more about our mission and join our community? Head on over to joyfullydifferent.co
If you become a member of our community you’ll get your first month FREE.