Homophobia Still Affects Lives of Older Gay People

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.baycitizen.org/health/story/homophobia-still-affects-lives-older-gay/

LGBT seniors came of age in a culture hostile to gay people. While the days of considering homosexuality a disease and a crime may be over for good, homophobia still affects the health of older gay people.

The three biggest issues affecting the health of LGBT seniors are isolation, a lack of traditional family structures and economic insecurity, issues that are often intertwined, advocates say.

Past discrimination can have a real affect on the lives of today’s seniors, said Jan Couvillion, former outreach to elders activities manager at New Leaf, a San Francisco healthcare center for LGBT people that closed in 2009 after 35 years of operation.

Overall, LGBT elders are half as likely as their straight peers to have a close relative to rely on for help, and elderly lesbian couples are twice as likely as heterosexual couples to live below the poverty line, according to a report by SAGE, an advocacy group for LGBT seniors, “Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults.” These are significant risk factors for poor health outcomes, the report noted.

[Mimosa]

1. A majority of us don't have children

When we get old there's no younger family members who 'care about us.' It's sort of sad and most of us can't make it otherwise. No matter what we do for nieces and nephews there's no filial duty in return.:(

Usually only when a gay person has a whole lot of money do most family members start 'caring' when the person gets old and needs help. And sometimes not even then.

[w8liftinglady]

2. You're right.

My partner and I are helping a retired teacher get in to an adult apartment complex. He had been discarded by his family years ago when he came out. My kids moved his stuff for him.
we have to be each other's family.
Peace.

[Sub Atomic]

3. "we have to be each other's family"

This made me cry.

My 'family' discarded me many, many years ago and my friends have become my family. As I get older, I've watched many friends pass away, many friends become widowers, many friends just disappear.

It's horrifying what our community does to our own when we no longer are pretty enough or young enough or rich enough to be wanted.

Thanks for the thread, lady.

[msongs]

4. the popular crowd would rather not associate with anyone over 40 or 50 nt

[Scottybeamer70]

5. I know all about that "isolation" thingy........

Thanks for the post!