14 how do autism and sexuality interact?

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Robin
page fourteen of etiolated. panel 1 - two figures on a sofa. one asks robin, "does a.s.d. affect sexuality?" in the next panel robin answers, it does mine. my window into intimacy, play, exploration, joy, grounding, and bonding is touch. panel three - sexuality: physical arousal. we know autism can enhance or dull the response to body cues. autism prolongs reactoins and processing. now put those delays and re-wires - panel four is layered over a drawing of the state of south carolina - in the american south. i grew up in an area named for how far it is from other places, and for dead white supremacists, and for the indigenous people we displaced. issaqueena trails. six mile. clemson. central station. panel five - a row of buildings with trees behind them. a church building. a town hall. a college assembly building. a water tower. an old grist mill. panel six - in high school i was frustrated by my and my peers' immaturity. a text message: want to go to the lake? robin's answer: yes, i'd love to! panel seven - robin from high school scowls at the reader while author robin holds their shoulder in support and speaks to the reader. panel eight - the church and my secular boyfriend were focused on genitalia while i hunted for conneciton. how does kissing go? can a boyfriend and girlfriend hang out and have conversations like friends? why don't we go on dates or hold hands? panel nine - robin and their high school boyfriend sit close together on the floral sofa. boyfriend says "put your hand here while we make out". robin answers "isn't your grandpa home?". panel ten - boyfriend asks "will you give me a blowjob?" robin says "ew, no". boyfriend - "how about a boob job?" robin - "what about the lake?" panel eleven - robin and their boyfriend and a lake shore with trees are painted simply and in bright colors. their conversation reads "what are you doing? close your pants." "i thought you'd be into this. you seem willing to do a lot of things i didn't think you would." "the beach is RIGHT THERE".

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