comparing acceptance plights

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This is comparing and contrasting the acceptance effort of autism with the acceptance effort of gays and bi's. Mainly because there is a very stupid, stereotypically-NT factor to it.

Gays/bi's: There is a significant portion of society that accepts gays, but more out of following a trend than real genuine acceptance and respect. To me this seems like a slap in the face, but it's better than where they were before the trend picked up (during the 90's, Marylin Manson made it "cool" to be more open minded towards them.... It started in the goth community and spread outward).
autism: really no acceptance at all. There might be a small emo trend of people who fake being aspie, but I doubt it's so large to be noted outside this forum here. It's more of a 'fake random mental disorder' trend which when added with people faking other conditions can form a somewhat significant group of people, mostly angst-ridden teens but some older people too. That's about the only social respect we've really got, if you wanna call that respect.

Now what I find stupid is this: If you tell a straight NT person your gay, you'll either get made fun of OR (and this is the focus point here) they'll "accept" you to follow the trend of being "open minded".
On the other hand, if you tell that same person your autistic, they'll condemn you LARGELY BECAUSE THERE IS NO SOCIAL TREND TO SUPPORT AUTISM ACCEPTANCE, and no famous person has told them "it's cool" yet. How short sited and hypocritical and fake is that?

I think I have a harder time with sexuality than Aspergers.
And I live in Manchester.

i wouldn't attribute gay acceptance to manson, lol

and i would say people would be more accepting of autism than homosexuality purley on a religious standpoint... ie- i think most christian would say an autistic person would go to heaven way before a gay person would go to heaven...

but that touches on that "real" factor you were talking about.

homosexuality... aside from the genetic/environment causality issue... is pretty much figured out... and it's been made clear that it's not going away... so people are faced with it (if not truly accept it)

autism just hasn't reached that point yet

it's kinda like exponential growth vs logistic growth.... same curve... just different points along the axis. where autism awareness is goining exponentially... the issue on homosexuality has almost reached its carrying capacity.

it's weird... i'd say poeple are prolly more apt to say autism is more natural and thus acceptible... it's just not as common knowledge

Also, I would have thought more people would react badly to being called gay than autistic. Most people I have met would anyway. Possibly because of insecurities. I think autism is less understood by most people though.

well yeah but it's plainly obvious (from a straight man's perspective at that) that alot of straight people who parade around the fact they have gay friends or are open to gays are really doing it more to follow a trend than genuine acceptance of gays and bi's.

snake321,

YOU think manson made it COOL to be gay/bi? IF ANYTHING, IT made it WORSE! I don't know about elsewhere, but some in the us KILL homosexuals!! !! ! The army has its dont ask don't tell policy. People are reluctant to come out. They are a "protected class". WHY???? Because the majority DOESN'T like them, etc....

As for autism, the lobbyists, etc... are working AGAINST any positive info about autism. It is astounding. BELIEVE what you will, but the current autism criteria at least leaves my ASD status in doubt. I am not alone there! THAT is astounding. People complain about the epidemic of autism when it is really simply a broadening of the criteria. Then again, many of them complain about the loss of the $500Billion surplus, when it really NEVER existed! It is a deficit of TRILLIONS of dollars! The "loss" was just a fairer tax plan, and more realistic expenses in the PROJECTED BUDGET!

Anyway, they make autism out to be just some sort of exotic mental retardation when it is really NOTHING of the sort! Heck, apparently most here, myself included, just have a restructuring of abilities. Interestingly, they are usually MORE in line with todays needs. They should WELCOME such autistics with open arms, and not ridicule them.

Steve

Dude, I'm not saying gays don't face discrimination, I never said that. In fact I said just the opposite, they face alot of discrimination. However, there is a significant portion of society that accepts gays **only to follow a trend** (which is probably better than pure hatred atleast, it's a step in the right direction).
But people won't accept aspies because we don't have a major trend out there to accept us.

Think I may get some of your point. I often notice parallels between movements for respect/rights/recognition-whether they be based on gender, race, sexual orientation, neurological diversity, financial status or cultural class. There are issues/hurdles in common, despite differences in the population united under a particular theme.
Being able to "pass" for normal, whatever that means in a variety of situations. Being around people who are supposedly "like oneself", and how comfortable (or not) one is in that environment. Those with same label who have done well, raising expectations for those who haven't been as successful-the inspiration and disappointment that can result. And so on...
Yeah, it would be groovy if someone well-known & well-liked came out to show the public another way to view the dx. Alas, it's the nature of media (and their "mainstream" audience) to reduce, distort & oversimplify. A positive story would be unfair to those unhappy about their dx, a negative story would be unfair to those happy w/their ASD dx. Y'know ? An even-handed story would be considered not exciting/dramatic enough to attract viewers/readers, perhaps.