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Pride-Admin posted an update
Finding My Place: A Neurodivergent Journey in the LGBT+ Community
For as long as I can remember, I have been searching for my “thing”—that one goal, achievement, or lasting legacy that would make me feel like I truly belong.
I flunked my A-levels. I moved from job to job without really understanding why. I struggled in my personal life, moving from home to home, never quite settling. And yet, through it all, I carried a deep desire to do something meaningful—especially for the LGBT+ community, which has always been my home, my people.
At 51, I was diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression. It was a revelation, an explanation for the way my mind worked, the way I flitted between ideas, jobs, and places. But while the diagnosis gave me clarity, it didn’t give me support. And at 57, I find myself wondering—where do I truly fit in? What do I have to contribute?
For the last 20 years, I’ve been trying to build my own business (and failing miserably), not for financial gain, but because deep down, helping others in the LGBT+ community makes me feel happy. It gives me purpose. It’s my way of making a difference, however small.
But here’s the hardest part: the lack of support. The people and businesses that claim to be inclusive often don’t understand—or don’t want to understand—what it means to be neurodivergent. They judge my behavior without considering that autism shapes how I live, interact, and communicate. They see the surface but not the struggle beneath it.
Trying to get a business off the ground is tough for anyone. Doing it as an autistic, ADHD, LGBT+ person, with little to no support, feels impossible some days. And yet, I keep going. Because I still believe in what I’m trying to build.
So here’s my question: What does real inclusion look like? How do we move beyond words and truly support those who need it most?
If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong, or if you’ve fought for something only to feel unseen, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s start a conversation about what true support means—for all of us.
#LGBTQ+ #Neurodiversity #Inclusion #Support #Autism #ADHD #Community
