An exploration into how age can form part of one's identity.
Studies, such as Barrett (2015) and Westwood (2016), consistently show that LGBT+ people are disadvantaged in later life; they are less likely to have children and spouses to care and advocate for them in old age or to have the financial resources to receive adequate professional care. Whilst LGBT+ older people who have come out in later life are more likely to have children that could support them they are not always willing to do so. Family members may deny the person the ability to present themselves as their true gender or prevent them from seeing their same-sex partner, therefore limiting the individual’s ability to live as their authentic self. This is further compounded by the rampant homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia that exists in aged care facilities. Many LGBT+ people have alternative ‘chosen’ families; however, studies have shown that these chosen families are less likely to provide the same level of support that heterosexual people receive from biological families (Westwood 2016). This is because chosen families are rarely inter-generational and consist of friendships between people of similar ages. The physiological, financial, and social realities of ageing mean that it becomes more difficult for these groups of friends to support one another to the same extent that a younger person could support a parent.
The intersecting identity of being LGBT+ and older is marginalised. ‘Old age’ is an incredibly heteronormative space and one that increases feelings of invisibility within the older LGBT+ community. Many feel they must go ‘back into the closet’ when they access formal adult social care. Other service users and social care staff make aged care spaces either unsafe or unwelcoming places for LGBT+ people to be in. This marginalisation is even more acute when older LGBT+ people do not have the same financial and social support networks as heterosexual and cisgender older people. Leaving them with little room for ‘consumer choice’ that accompanies the increasing marketisation and privatisation of aged care, i.e. LGBT+ people cannot ‘shop around’ for the best carers or care facilities. Then, on the other hand, LGBT+ spaces themselves have an age problem. Images of the LGBT+ community used in mainstream media are often ones of youth and vibrancy. The most iconic LGBT+ TV programs and films rarely feature a person over the age of fifty; Queer Eye, the L-word, Pose, and Queer as Folk to name a few. Some older LGBT+ people say they are made to feel ugly, unwelcome, or invisible by younger members of the community (Jones 2011). Ageism is quite clearly an issue here.
'Many feel they must go ‘back into the closet’ when they access formal adult social care.'
However, the reality that many LGBT+ people will never reach old age is another compounding factor that makes the community appear ageist. While ageism is a systemic form of oppression, the ability to age is a privilege that many do not have. One recent study found that trans people are significantly unprepared for later life and for some trans people their plans do not go much further than ‘self-euthanasia’ before frailty sets in (Witten 2016). This is because many fear that their gender identity will be invalidated should they need to go into residential care; a fate some see worse than death. Participants of this study cited the dangerous reality of being trans in a transphobic world as fuelling their ability to come to terms with the constant threat of death. The fact that 35 is the average life expectancy for trans women of colour is a well-recited piece of evidence to show just how dangerous it is to exist for some members of the community. Paris is Burning, the documentary that inspired the show Pose, was filmed in the 1980s and despite the young age of many of the cast members, only one is alive today. The cast members, who should be in their fifties or sixties now, died long ago from AIDs related and other illnesses or murder. Just in August this year, Elie Che, a British black woman who was described as a ‘trans icon’, died at the young age of 23 after recently posting on her Instagram her desire to ‘make it past’ the average lifespan of 35 (Alston 2020). Still to this day, many members of our community are just hoping to last the year. So, can we really blame LGBT+ people for not preparing themselves for old age?
'While ageism is a systemic form of oppression, the ability to age is a privilege that many do not have.'
Despite what sounds like a grim future for an ageing LGBT+ population, there are some silver linings. Firstly, other studies have pointed to the idea that despite the fact being LGBT+ can make ageing more complicated, it can have some positive outcomes (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al. 2018). LGBT+ people have many strengths that come out of living in adversity. We are able to maintain a positive sense of identity, we are better equipped at adapting to and surviving hardship, and we are able to build a community when we are not always given one. These are all things that put LGBT+ people at an advantage when it comes to acclimatising to age-related changes.
'Despite what sounds like a grim future for an ageing LGBT+ population, there are some silver linings.'
Secondly, despite what sometimes feels like the opposite in an increasingly neoliberal far-right world, LGBT+ equality is progressing, especially here in the UK. LGBT+ education is being implemented in schools across the country and LGBT+ inclusive training programmes are also popular in many sectors, including social care. LGBT+ visibility has also exploded across mainstream British media in recent years with hit TV programs such as Feel Good, Sex Education, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and not to mention all the LGBT+ people who frequent many of our (love them or hate them) popular dating TV shows such as Dinner Date, First Dates, and Naked Attraction. Being seen as an ‘out’ member of the LGBT+ community is becoming more common and our presence is growing stronger. This means things can only get better for LGBT+ people as we age. The more people that are out and demanding a better life for themselves means that older LGBT+ people will get the resources they need to both survive and thrive. Tonic Living is an LGBT+ organisation that has been making plans over the last few years to move towards opening the first UK LGBT+ retirement village; something which has already been done several times across the pond in the United States. Such LGBT+ exclusive spaces and the increasing LGBT+ awareness and acceptance that is being learned in mainstream care facilities means the future can only get brighter for prospective generations.
'The more people that are out and demanding a better life for themselves means that older LGBT+ people will get the resources they need to both survive and thrive.'
Article Written by Kitty Clucas
Works Cited:
Barrett, C. C. C. (2015) 'Understanding the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Australians living with dementia, and their partners', Australasian Journal On Ageing, 34, pp. 34-38.
Westwood, S. (2016) 'Dementia, women and sexuality: How the intersection of ageing, gender and sexuality magnify dementia concerns among lesbian and bisexual women', Dementia, 15(6), pp. 1494-1514.
Jones, R. L. (2011) 'Imagining Bisexual Futures: Positive, Non-Normative Later Life', Journal of Bisexuality, 11(2-3), pp. 245-270.
Witten, T. M. (2016) 'Aging and Transgender Bisexuals: Exploring the Intersection of Age, Bisexual Sexual Identity, and Transgender Identity', Journal of Bisexuality, 16(1), pp. 58-80.
Alston, T. (2020) 'UK Trans Icon Elie Che Found Dead', Paper Magazine. [Online] Available at: https://www.papermag.com/elie-che-found-dead-2647449846.html?rebelltitem=8#rebelltitem8.
Fredriksen-Goldsen, K., Jen, S., Bryan, A. E. B. and Jayn, G. (2018) 'Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Dementias in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults and Their Caregivers: Needs and Competencies', Journal of Applied Gerontology;, 37(5), pp. 545-569.