LGBT ageing

LGBT ageing addresses issues and concerns related to ageing and minority sexualities or gender identities. Older LGBT* people are marginalised by: a) younger LGBT people, because of ageism and age discrimination; and b) by older age social networks because of heteronormativity (the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm), heterosexism (the privileging of heterosexuality), biphobia, homophobia and transphobia (prejudice and discrimination towards LGBT people).

There has been a growth of interest in lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) ageing in recent years. There is a growing body of academic literature on the subject from the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Ireland. There is also a number of documents from social policy and/or campaign organisations, particularly in relation to health and social care issues, for example from the Metlife Mature Market Institute.

The earliest waves of research sought ‘to challenge the image of the lonely and bitter old queer’ and ‘suggested that older gay men and lesbians are not alone, isolated, or depressed but benefit from navigating a stigmatized identity through crisis competence’, which also informs resilience in dealing with inequalities associated with older age. Subsequent authors questioned the positive bias which may have been present in some of these initial studies. More recent research has focused on health, housing and social care and support needs, older LGBT rights and also the differences between and among older LGBT* individuals, particularly in relation to gender. There is a lack of research on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) older LGBT* individuals, ageing and bisexuality, issues of class and other intersections.

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Wikipedia