Are Autism and Asexuality linked? What is the difference between aromanticism and asexuality? What does asexuality look like in a relationship?

PJ Âû (@pj_au_ [https://www.instagram.com/pj_au_/?hl=en#]) is a US-based Autism advocate in modeling, acting and singing. Not only a multi-award-winning individual, PJ volunteers her time to support autistic people in her community to locate the support and help that they need. Although not her main focus, asexuality is part of who she is and relishes in the opportunity to provide representation for the ACE community.

PJ's Links - https://linktr.ee/pj_a [https://linktr.ee/pj_au_] // My Links - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK

In this episode of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas Henley talks to PJ all about asexuality and its range of subgroups of individuals within the ACE spectrum; they also touch on the link between Autism and asexuality, and bond over the difficulties and realities of dating as a member of the ACE community.

They start the conversation by bonding over their difficulties with Speech Apraxia and 'Selective' Mutism and how this encouraged PJ to focus more on modeling than her acting career. Todd from Bojack Horseman was mentioned multiple times, due to the representation his character gave the community as a male, Hispanic and asexual individual. 

PJ painfully tries to describe to Thomas the different sub-categories of Asexuality and jargon, which sparked up a conversation about the barriers to entry for learning about new topics like Autism. 

Thomas introduces his theories on why Autistic people are more likely to be asexual, such as sensory differences and indirect communication... but they both agreed that everyone's situation and the meaning don't require explanation to be valid, however interesting to delve into. Pj quoted over 50% of Autistic people identifying as on the ACE spectrum, and anywhere north of 70% for landing anywhere within the LGBTQA+ community. 

PJ opens up about her Hollywood'esque experience of meeting her now husband; after talking online and following each other's Cold Play Tumblr accounts for years they took a leap of faith and decided to give their relationship a go. They are a happily married s*x-repulsed Asexual couple.

They end up talking about the common criticisms, stereotypes and comments asexuals have to deal with online and within interpersonal relationships. Agreeing that asexuality is a useful label, NOT something to do with garnering attention or having a libido, and something extremely useful to label yourself as when navigating the tumultuous world of dating!

Song Of The Day (Listen Here) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5

Interview me, 1:1 Autism coaching, Public Speaking for events, workplace training  - https://www.thomashenley.co.uk [https://www.thomashenley.co.uk/]