My name is Lauren. I am 22 years old. I am a recent college graduate. I am a writer and an activist on my good days. I am an older sister and a friend.

I am also autistic and a lesbian. It’s certainly no picnic, but hey, I try my best. And no, I do not wish I were "normal." Disability and sexuality are topics that are often kept separate. Autistic people, or people with any disability, having sex lives makes a lot of abled folks uncomfortable — and many straight folks can't separate the idea of gay, bi, or queer identity from sex.

Once a classmate in my women's studies class asked the TA if it's possible for people with mental disabilities to fall in love. Though I was upset to hear her ask that — and technically know that the answer is yes — I sometimes ask the same question myself. When so much of the LGBT movement as a whole is centered around being in love, it’s hard not to feel a little left out.

Because I struggle to understand dating norms and have a small pool of potential partners, I sometimes fear that I will never find love. I’m the same age my mom was when she met my dad, and I have never been in a relationship. Read more via Buzzfeed