‘Because It’s Who I Am’: Self-Determination of LGBTQ Adults with Intellectual Disability

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) people with intellectual disability face unique challenges in asserting their identities. We aim to understand how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) individuals with intellectual disability exercise self-determination within disability services. Eight LGBTQ adults with intellectual disability who used disability services participated in qualitative interviews. Fifteen key informants, representing government policy makers, disability service organisations, gender and sexuality educators, and senior leaders of LGBTQ organisations were also interviewed. We found that LGBTQ people with intellectual disability navigate barriers to self-determination: making autonomous decisions about their sexualities or gender identities; coming out and being recognised as LGBTQ; and gaining a sense of belonging in both disability and LGBTQ spaces. We suggest organisational-level actions including: (1) building organisational awareness; (2) including sexuality and gender identities in person centred support planning; and (3) increasing access to positive visual representations and experiences of pride. This research is important because it highlights the need for disability organisations to support LGBTQ people intellectual disability to live self-determined lives.LGBTQ people with intellectual disability do not have access to LGBTQ peers and education. This makes it difficult to develop LGBTQ identity.Disability service organisations generally do not encourage people with intellectual disability come out to the people around them including support workers.Disability service organisations should think about people's sexuality and gender identities when choosing how to support them.Experiences of pride events can help people feel like they belong.LGBTQ people with intellectual disability can be reliant on disability service organisations for information and support services.