You’ve seen it on a sticker. Or maybe a faded t-shirt at a pride parade. It's a phrase that hits you fast: I put the gay in dyslexic. At first glance, it looks like a typo, or maybe a brain-teaser. Then the joke lands. It’s a linguistic somersault that perfectly captures what it feels like to live at the intersection of being queer and neurodivergent.
Honestly, the phrase works because it’s messy. It’s not a polished corporate slogan for an inclusion seminar. It’s a "sh*tpost" turned anthem. In the world of Internet slang and TikTok aesthetics, this specific combination of words has carved out a niche for people who are tired of being told they need to be "fixed." It’s about taking the things that society calls "disorders" or "deviations" and smashing them together into something funny. Something yours.
Why "I Put the Gay in Dyslexic" Actually Makes Sense
The logic is delightfully broken. If you’re dyslexic, letters move. They swap places. They refuse to stay in the lines. If you "put the gay" in there, you’re basically saying your brain is double-jumbled—and you’re fine with it. It’s a play on the old "I put the [something] in [something]" idiom, like "putting the 'fun' in 'fundamentalism,'" but it intentionally leans into the chaos of a learning disability.
Neurodiversity and queerness have a long, tangled history. Researchers have actually spent quite a bit of time looking into why these two worlds overlap so often. Studies, like those published in Autism in Adulthood or discussed by organizations like the Dyslexic Adult Network, suggest that neurodivergent people—those with ADHD, Autism, or Dyslexia—are statistically more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ than the general population.
Why? Some experts think it’s because if your brain already ignores social norms regarding how to read, write, or focus, it’s probably going to ignore social norms regarding who to love or how to express gender. You’re already an outsider. The "rules" of the neurotypical, heteronormative world never made much sense to begin with, so you stopped trying to follow them.
The Power of Reclaiming the "Glitch"
We spend a lot of time trying to "cure" things. For decades, the medical model of disability treated dyslexia as a problem to be solved with intensive phonics and colored overlays. Similarly, the queer experience was treated as something to be "corrected."
When someone wears a shirt that says I put the gay in dyslexic, they’re opting out of that correction.
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It’s a form of radical self-acceptance. It says: "Yeah, my brain processes information differently, and my heart processes attraction differently. Both of these things make me who I am."
Think about the way we use language. Language is usually a tool for precision. But for a dyslexic person, language is often a barrier. By purposefully "messing up" the word dyslexic with the word gay, the speaker is taking control of the very tool that usually frustrates them. It’s a linguistic power move.
From Tumblr to the Mainstream
This isn't just a random string of words; it's part of a larger movement of "Neuroqueer" identity. The term Neuroqueer was coined by scholars like Nick Walker and Remi Yergeau. It describes the practice of "queering" neurodiversity—refusing to let your brain be "normalized."
The phrase I put the gay in dyslexic is basically the "fast fashion" version of high-level academic theory. It takes the complex idea of intersecting identities and turns it into a punchline that fits on a 2x2 sticker. It started in the corners of Tumblr and Twitter, where self-deprecating humor is the primary currency. It’s the kind of joke that makes you feel seen without being overly sentimental.
We’ve seen similar trends with phrases like "Be Gay, Do Crime" or "My Brain Is Just A Tab With 40 Other Tabs Open." These are verbal badges of honor. They signal to other people in the "in-group" that you’re part of the tribe. If you get the joke, you’re one of us.
The Real-World Struggles Behind the Humor
It’s not all jokes and stickers, though.
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Being both queer and dyslexic presents some unique hurdles.
- Medical Gaslighting: Queer people often struggle to get doctors to take their physical or mental health concerns seriously. Add a learning disability into the mix, and you’re often dismissed as "confused" or "unreliable."
- Access to Resources: Many support systems for dyslexia are aimed at children. Once you’re an adult, those resources vanish. If you’re a queer adult, finding a neurodiversity coach who also understands LGBTQ+ issues is like finding a needle in a haystack.
- The "Double Closet": Sometimes, people feel they have to hide their dyslexia in queer spaces to seem "competent," or hide their queerness in professional disability spaces to avoid being "too much."
Using humor—like the I put the gay in dyslexic meme—is a coping mechanism. It’s a way to vent the pressure of trying to navigate a world that wasn't built for you.
How to Lean Into the Chaos
If you’re reading this and thinking, Wait, that’s literally me, you’re not alone. You’re part of a massive, vibrant community of people who are "glitching" the system in the best way possible.
So, how do you actually live this out?
First, stop apologizing for your brain. If you misspell a word in a text, who cares? If you can’t remember if it’s "their," "there," or "they’re," just use "they’re" and hope for the best. Or better yet, lean into it.
Second, find your people. Look for "Neuroqueer" groups online. Use hashtags on platforms like TikTok or Instagram to find others who are making content about being LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent. The community is huge, and they are incredibly supportive.
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Third, advocate for yourself. In the workplace, you have rights. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or similar laws globally, you are entitled to "reasonable accommodations." This might mean using speech-to-text software or asking for meeting notes in writing. Don't let the fear of being "different" stop you from getting what you need to succeed.
Actionable Steps for the Neuroqueer Community
Living at this intersection requires some specific "life hacks" to keep your sanity.
Embrace Assistive Tech Without Shame Stop trying to "muscle through" reading long documents. Use tools like Speechify or the OpenDyslexic font. There is no moral failing in using a screen reader. In fact, it saves your energy for more important things—like being gay.
Curate Your Social Media Feed If your feed is full of "hustle culture" influencers telling you to "just focus harder," hit the unfollow button. Replace them with creators like pacing.pill or others who talk openly about the intersection of disability and identity. You need to see people who look and think like you.
Practice Radical Transparency If you’re comfortable, tell people. "Hey, I’m dyslexic, so if I send a weirdly worded email, just ask for clarification." Normalizing the conversation removes the stigma. It turns your "glitch" into just another piece of information.
Support Independent Creators Instead of buying mass-produced "inclusion" gear, find the artists who actually live this experience. Look on Etsy or Redbubble for artists who specialize in neurodivergent and queer themes. Supporting them helps keep the subculture alive and authentic.
The phrase I put the gay in dyslexic might seem like a small thing. A throwaway joke. But for the people who claim it, it’s a way of saying: "I am here, I am weird, and I am not going to change." And honestly? That’s the most powerful thing you can be.