Grammar Geek wrote:
For me, I'm a lot more open about having Asperger's than I am about being bisexual, because it's obvious to people that there's something different about me in how I act, so I tell them I have Asperger's so they don't just think I'm weird. But I don't possess any of the stereotypes of being on the LGBT spectrum, so I see no reason to disclose it to people lest they judge me for it.
Same here, I tell people about the autism because it affects my everyday communication and social understanding. If they know I can get along with people easier generally. With the gay thing I tend not to tell people generally except close friends and family and folk in places like WP and follk who need to know for some reason like my GP. I don't want to be judged either and it still happens from time to time.
Just today in Sainsbury's (a UK grocery store) I was speaking to someone on customer service and she asked me name (I was borrowing a disability scooter). She asked if I was Miss or Mrs, I said I get called all sorts but Ms is what I've got officially because I'm divorced. She said that people don't use Ms much because others might think that they're lesbians. I asked if Ms was really associated with that gay women and she said yes and expressed how I probably wouldn't want people to think that. I felt the usual shame of being thought of as bad / horrible / unacceptable and couldn't tell her the truth. This is a classic example of why I find being open about my sexuality hard.
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"That's no moon - it's a spacestation."
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ICD10)