If the modern world is youth-obsessed, the modern gay world takes that to the extreme. You could go around thinking that there isn’t a gay, lesbian, bi or trans person over the age of 50, such is the lack of visibility. These are the people who created the very idea of the gay community that we now we enjoy, yet they are nowhere to be seen, eclipsed by those youngsters reaping the benefits of their fight. Look at people like Lydia Foy, David Norris, Ailbhe Smyth and Nell McCafferty, what would our world be like without them?

Through their Visible Lives study, GLEN are hoping to change things. According to Danika from Visible Lives:

Understanding what life is like for older LGBT people in Ireland and understanding their hopes and concerns about ageing is important so that health services, older people’s services and LGBT community organisations can best support them. We’ll be using the information we collect from surveys and the interviews to make recommendations for improving services for older LGBT people.

To so this, they are asking as many LGBT people over 55 as possible to get involved in the study, by answering (anonymously) the survey which is at www.visiblelives.ie. Can you imagine the information our elder states-people have? They are the holders of our history. Yet, they are ignored, their needs unknown and their experiences untold.

Many of this age group were the pioneers in active campaigning for equal rights and equality. Their knowledge and experience would be invaluable to younger members of the community. Unfortunately, many of the older LGBT currently living in Ireland grew up at a time when their sexuality was stigmatised, criminalized and pathologised. As a consequence they have had to demonstrate resilience and developed positive coping strategies to overcome challenges, which would be a powerful source of learning and inspiration for others.

This study is crucial to address this ‘invisibility’ of Ireland’s older LGBT population. We are hoping that by targeting our research to older LGBT specifically and by offering people the opportunity to anonymously and confidentially share their experiences and needs, we will be able to make recommendations for improvements in services that will ultimately improve LGBT peoples’ lives.

All people of this age-group have certain needs which have to be met by service providers, but when you add sexuality to the mix, extra sensitivity is required by health specialists, housing officers and all manner of state officials. According to the study Supporting LGBT Lives (Mayock at al. 2009) a staggering 77% of LGBT people, age undefined, thought their health-care provider lacked knowledge or sensitivity to LGBT issues.

From a national perspective there is a dearth of social, psychological and health information on the needs of LGBT people aged 55 years and over and the possible explanations for health disparities in this population are poorly understood. This is an important concern.

Danika and the team at Visible Lives are determined that this worthy endeavour won’t end up as an interesting academic anecdote, a report on a shelf:

The research findings will inform GLEN’s subsequent work in the area of older LGBT people and underpin the inclusion of older LGBT people’s issues in GLEN’s other advocacy work. It will also guide the development of inclusive policies and practices for older LGBT people in mainstream older people’s organisations and services.

So, if you are a member of the community and are over 55, or you know someone who is, speak up and let’s give them the care, love and respect that they have earned.

e-mail: info@visiblelives.ie

website:  www.visiblelives.ie

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