Healthcare disparities exist for both LGBTQ+ and autistic communities, and there has been little previous research focusing on the intersection of these identities and how it relates to healthcare disparities.

Autistic LGBTQ+ people may face a number of challenges in accessing healthcare services, including a lack of services, inappropriate care, care refusal by providers, as well as many other challenges.

Autistic adolescents and adults are at higher risk for mental health issues, which may be exasperated by intersectional identities.

Wallich et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional survey to understand autistic LGBTQ+ healthcare experiences. They found that the LGBTQ+ autistic group reported significantly more days of poor physical and mental health, more health care needs, and a higher number of co-occurring diagnoses. They also found that those with more healthcare laws protecting against discrimination based on LGBTQ+ identity were less likely to have unmet healthcare needs.