RELATIONSHIPS & ID Relationships, sexuality and love and the needs of people with
intellectual disabilities who are LGBTQI+
By Michael Brown People with intellectual disabilities are full and equal members of Irish society and have the same hopes and desires like everyone else. There have been significant and important changes and developments in the care and support of people with intellectual disabilities over the past 30 years, with the majority living within their local communities, often with additional support to enable them to lead full and inclusive lives. Their hopes and desires include having a job, having friends, relationships and for some intimacy. Some people with intellectual disabilities have, or want, a romantic relationship. For some this may involve a sexual relationship. However, despite the same rights and responsibilities as other citizens, many people with intellectual disabilities experience significant prejudices and challenges, including the right to express their sexuality, in whatever form that may take. Barriers include assumptions that people with intellectual disabilities are asexual and not interested in relationships and sex. Families may be concerned about exploitation and harm due to their cognitive impairment and possible vulnerabilities. Some experience challenges and barriers to accessing individualised education and support appropriate to their needs regarding relationships. What is evident is that some people with intellectual disabilities are sexually active and others want to be.
While there has been an increasing recognition of the fundamental right of people with intellectual disabilities to express their sexuality, it is frequently assumed that this relates solely to a heterosexual expression. In Ireland there have been significant and welcome recognition of the rights of LGBTQI+ people, reinforced by changes in legislation to ensure equality. There is however a slow and gradual recognition that some people with intellectual disabilities are LGBTQI+, just like others in the general population. There is growing research evidence that some people with intellectual disabilities are LGBTQI+ and wish to express their gender and sexual identity. Despite this, as with the expression of their sexuality in general, people with intellectual disabilities who are LGBTQI+ report significant barriers. These include heteronormative assumptions and a general attitude that they are not sexually active, through to negative attitudes regarding being intellectually impaired and LGBTQI+, a situation often negatively perceived by some as them being doubly disabled and disadvantaged. What is very clear is that people with intellectual disabilities want friendships and relationships, and some are or want to be sexually active and this may involve a same sex relationship. Some people with intellectual disabilities are gay and yet may lack opportunities to meet other gay people and are relatively invisible within the gay community.
PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WANT FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND SOME ARE OR WANT TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE AND THIS MAY INVOLVE A SAME SEX RELATIONSHIP” “
What is evident is that gay people with intellectual disabilities want access to accurate and non-judgemental information, education and supports that enable them to lead lives and develop friendships and for some this may involve a same sex, loving relationship. There is therefore an opportunity to further support their wider inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities within Irish society, including those who are gay, and ensure they can express their sexuality like any other citizen in whatever form that may take.
Michael Brown is Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast and undertakes research into the care and support needs of people with intellectual disabilities, including the expression of their sexuality.
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