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LGBTQ+ News

National conference on needs of Older LGBT People

Besi Besemar January 24, 2015

With LGBT History Month starting on February 1 and the BBC’s recent ‘Living Longer’ week still fresh in the memory, a major conference is taking place in London on Wednesday, January 28 called ‘Older LGBT People: Minding the Knowledge Gaps’.

Peter Tatchell will be addressing the conference
Peter Tatchell will be addressing the conference

THE CONFERENCE is the culmination of a series of six events that have been addressing gaps in understanding about older LGBT lives, especially:

• Older bisexual and trans people’s lives

• The significance of intergenerational issues, such as younger and older LGBT people supporting one another

• The effects of financial resources and austerity on older LGBT people

• How older LGBT people experience intersections of ethnicity, culture and religion in their lives

• And what older LGBT people want in relation to health, housing and social care

Dr Andrew King, from the University of Surrey and a co-organiser of the event, said: “This is a really good opportunity to hear how we’ve been exploring gaps in knowledge about older LGBT people, to debate these issues and push the agenda forward. Despite increasing legislation and what some people see as progressive steps towards LGBT equality, we know that some older LGBT people are still vulnerable to living out their later life in fear and isolation. We also know that research has tended to focus on particular groups of older LGBT people, often to the detriment of others.”

Research shows that older LGBT people are at increased risk of social exclusion in later life due to a combination of inequalities and prejudice concerning their age, gender identity and sexualities, in addition to any other forms of discrimination they may face due to their ethnicity, cultural background, religion and health status.

They are less likely to have intergenerational support networks: although many have ‘families of friends’ they are often all of a similar age and may need help and support at the same time. As a result they are more likely to need formal social care provision sooner and in greater proportion than their heterosexual peers. Yet, at the same time such provision is ill-equipped to meet their needs, and is perceived by older LGBT people to be sites of ‘ignorance at best and prejudice at worst’ (Stonewall 2011).

Many older LGBT people avoid such provision even if they really need it. When in receipt of formal care and support some feel they have to conceal their identities from providers. Although there are a growing number of formal support groups across the UK, run by older LGBT themselves and charities such as Age UK, not all can assess these services, especially if they live in more rural areas.

The conference taking place on Monday, January 28 will provide an opportunity to address these issues, to hear from experts in the field of LGBT ageing and writers, performers and activists.

Keynote speakers include Peter Tatchell and Baroness Liz Barker, who will be looking back and looking forward in relation to older LGBT people’s rights.

Representatives from Age UK, Stonewall, Stonewall Housing together with academic researchers and Vernal Scott, prize-winning author of ‘God’s Other Children – A London Memoir’ and the writer and performer Clare Summerskill will also be taking part.


 

Event: Conference, Older LGBT People: Minding the Knowledge Gaps

Where: The Abbey Centre, Westmininster, London SW1

When: Wednesday 28, 2015

Time: 10.30am-17.30pm

Cost: Open to: Public, Staff, Students, Alumni, Teachers & Careers Advisors. Admission price: All professionals (inc charities) – £25.00 Older LGBT community members – Free. Students (limited availability) – Free.

For more information, click here:

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