Gay & Gray XI: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Aging with Pride!

Abstract

Having previously tackled topics such as LGBTQ military sexual trauma, revisiting aging populations and HIV, and the intersectional experience of black queer older adults, Gay & Gray this year will focus on the transitional process of aging itself. While seniors cope with life changes as they grow older, LGBTQ seniors face specific challenges that may be especially burdensome. Often, older LGBTQ adults “have to make a hard choice at the end of their lives: Go ‘back into the closet’ or accept inferior care and discrimination” (CBC). This predicament embodies “a fear of loss of autonomy, identity, and freedom of sexual expression,” and often results in compromise “in order to feel safe during a period in which they anticipate… being vulnerable and lacking in power” (Wilson, et al.).In this session, we will discuss powerful issues including the threat of isolation while aging, healthcare access, and moving to long-term housing through the lens of gender and sexual minorities. First, we will explore how older LGBTQ adults are often more isolated than their heterosexual counterparts, with higher rates of living alone, fewer sources of family and social supports, and greater stigma among their peers (SAGE “US Army Vet”, Progress Lifeline). We will also consider reasons why LGBTQ adults may be hesitant to disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity to healthcare providers, fearing inadequate care and even outright discrimination. Afterwards, we will discuss how LGBTQ adults’ transitions from independent living into assisted living and nursing homes are further complicated by concerns about experiencing physical and verbal harassment, as more and more LGBTQ individuals fear “being forced back into the closet” and “conceal… their true selves” in order to access services and avoid harassment (Wilson, et al.). Lastly, we will evaluate potential solutions to promote community and enhance access to safe housing for aging LGBTQ individuals.