“Neuroqueer” is a term, originally coined by Dr. Nick Walker, a psychology professor. In 2008, Dr. Walker used the term in a graduate paper. After being involved in various community discussions, the term has caught hold in the queer and neurodivergent lexicon. So, what does it mean? 

Borrowing from queer theory and disability studies, the idea of “neuroqueer” is the act of “queering” or subverting norms from the majority culture–in this case, neurotypical and heterosexual, cisgender standards that tend to dominate Western society. 

To put it simply, one can both be neuroqueer or neuroqueer something, such as workplace norms, to make them more accessible and validating of queer and neurodivergent experiences. 

So is it a noun? A verb? Are people or things “neuroqueer”? 

Yes to all of the above! 

Neuroqueer is a theory, but it is also a way people can identify or act. 

Here are the main ideas in the eight core components of neuroqueer, as developed by Nick Walker, Athena Lynn Michaels-Dillon, and Remi Yergeau. (Note that we’ve paraphrased them below rather than quoting exactly from the original text.) 

• Neuroqueer can be an adjective for people who are both queer and neurodivergent and exploring how these two aspects of oneself mix or connect
• The “queer” part of neuroqueer encourages people to “embody and express” neurodivergence in ways that queer one’s sexuality, gender, gender performance, or other aspects of oneself 
• Doing neuroqueer things can manifest as making art, literature, scholarship, critical responses, or other things that center neuroqueer experiences, voices, and points of view
• The idea of “neuroqueer” is fluid, shifting, and adapting

What does “neuroqueer” as a verb mean?

While Walker, Athena Lynn Michaels-Dillon, and Remi Yergeau established eight core components of “neuroqueer theory,” they don’t want to make any official definition too authoritative. 

That being said, the general idea is to challenge and change social and cultural environments so that society and communities can support, encourage, and allow for people who are neuroqueer to thrive and succeed. 

What does being queer and neurodivergent have to do with each other?

This could be its own blog post! 

First, based on recent research, Autistic individuals are three times more likely to identify as transgender, and another study found that among its participants, only 30% of Autistic people consider themselves heterosexual; among neurotypical people, heterosexual people make up 70%. Some research also shows that neurodivergent people are eight times more likely to identify as asexual or on the asexual spectrum. 

Considering it the other way, gender-expansive folks are three to six times more likely to identify as neurodivergent compared to their cisgender peers (Sarris, 2020).

What does this mean for me if I’m LGBTQ+? 

If you identify as a person in the queer community and you’ve wondered if you might be on the Autism spectrum or have ADHD, know that you’d be joining a community with lots of overlap with your current community! 

If you want to read more about ADHD and how it might apply to you, check out our blog. Self Made Psychology offers psychotherapy and ADHD assessments and you can make an appointment here if you want to start a journey of self-exploration. Self Made Psychology has a team of clinicians with lived experience in neurodivergence and being LGBTQIA+, so know that you’ll be seen and valued when working with our team.

References

Sarris, Marina (2020). Autistic People More Likely to Identify as LGBTQ. Discover Spark. Retrieved on November 11, 2021. https://sparkforautism.org/discover_article/autism-lgbtq-identity/