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Visible Lives PAGE 1 MAIN REPORT Visible Lives IdentIfyIng the experIences and needs of older lesbIan, gay, Bisexual and transgender people In Ireland Visible Lives Identifying the experiences and needs of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in Ireland Age is opportunity no less, Than youth itself, though in another dress, And as the evening twilight fades away, The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1875), Morituri Salutamus Copyright © Agnes Higgins, Danika Sharek, Edward McCann, Fintan Sheerin, Michele Glacken, Marianne Breen, Mary McCarron; 2011. Published by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) Dublin. ISBN: 978-0-9561023-6-2 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, without written permission of the authors. PAGE 3 FOREWORD by Kathleen Lynch T.D. , Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People Huge progress has been made in recognising and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Ireland. In the space of twenty years we have seen the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the introduction of a sophisticated equality infrastructure, with the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 having been at the forefront internationally in naming sexual orientation as a specific equality ground and in extending its scope outside the field of employment. More recently, in 2010 comprehensive Civil Partnership legislation was introduced and the Government is determined to bring forward legislation later this year to provide for the recognition of the acquired gender of transgender people, on the basis of the recommendations of the Gender Recognition Advisory Group published in June. This report is the first comprehensive study of the lives of older LGBT people in Ireland. It offers unique insights into the lives of those people who have lived through and been most personally affected by these changes in Irish society. It shows the negative consequences for LGBT people of living through a period where a fundamental aspect of their identity - to be themselves and to live openly and securely with the person they love - was stigmatised, criminalised or even viewed as an illness. But the stories revealed in the study are also hopeful and inspiring, especially as they demonstrate the resilience of many LGBT people in overcoming adversity and in meeting the challenges they faced. It is also really interesting that the participants in this study take pleasure and strength from the progress that has been made and from seeing a younger generation of LGBT people able to live their lives more openly. In common with other older people, the participants in this study want to be as independent as long as possible as they age and are fearful as to how they will be treated or what options will be available to them when they are no longer able to look after themselves. An extra dimension of concern for LGBT people however, is the fear that services for older people, such as nursing homes or retirement communities will not recognise or respect their LGBT identity or their key relationships, especially with their partners. It is also notable that a large number of older LGBT people in this study still fear that disclosure of their identity will lead to the loss of friendships or even harassment. The specific concerns that have been raised in the report suggest that further work is necessary to ensure that health and other services are open and responsive to the particular needs of older LGBT people. As Minister with responsibility for older people, I am tasked with bringing coherence to Government planning, policy and service delivery for older people, in the context of a Government commitment to complete a National Positive Ageing Strategy that will set the strategic direction for future policies, programmes and services for older people. The findings and recommendations of this report will inform progress of the broader agenda of enhancing the status and visibility of older people in Irish society and promoting the positive ageing of older people in Ireland - including older LGBT people. The cross-sectoral approach used in the study provides an important model for future work in this area, to ensure the diverse range of issues and needs identified in the report can be addressed. I would like to congratulate GLEN, their partners in Age and Opportunity and the Health Service Executive, and the research team from Trinity College Dublin on the production of this significant study, the outcome of a very positive partnership. page 4 FOREWORD by Catherine Rose, CEO, Age & Opportunity I welcome the publication of Visible Lives, this ground-breaking research, which makes dramatic and compelling reading. Older LGBT people often experience a double invisibility, constituting an invisible minority within the minority constituted by older people, already marginalised by the western emphasis on youth, physical beauty and economic productivity. A consciousness of this provided the motivation for Age & Opportunity, through its Get Vocal programme, to support this research. We are pleased with how the research has gone on to richly illuminate many aspects of the experience of older LGBT people. With little international research on the subject of older LGBT people, and none in an Irish context, this study provides a valuable insight into the lives of people aged 55 and over who grew up in a context where their LGBT identity was characterised as unacceptable, abnormal and sinful, and where concealment was often considered necessary to avoid bringing shame on families. The exclusion experienced often ‘in turn led to employment discrimination and disempowerment and, for many, marginalisation from family and community.’ Unsurprising then that sadness and grief is palpable in the stories that emerge as the participants reflect on their lives. They talk of being shunned by family and friends and describe loss and grief arising from the circumstances of their lives or the deaths of loved ones. Nonetheless, the narratives are imbued with individual stories of courage, resilience, ability to move beyond adversity, to integrate negative experiences and live a fulfilled life. It is also obvious that many of the respondents experience a sense of pride in being the first generation of out LGBT people, and rejoice in being true to their authentic selves. There are, however, fears expressed about what older age will bring - fears that they will be unwelcome within mainstream ageing programmes, and excluded from LGBT organisations due to a youth-orientated culture. Other fears focus on the potential loss of independence that accompanies deteriorating health and the possibility of living in long-term care settings that would not respect LGBT identity. The sentiment, ‘I would go out of my mind if I wasn’t independent. I would hate to be a burden on anyone,’ expressed by one respondent is no different to what many older people feel in the non-LGBT community. Despite, for the most part, having very different experiences in youth and early adulthood we all have a lot in common with advancing age. The Report makes many important recommendations for policy changes. We at Age & Opportunity would wish that the Report also provide an impetus for older people with LGBT identity, particularly experienced campaigners, to become vocal about ageism and age discrimination, and, indeed, that age organisations and community services aimed at older people actively ensure that they are inclusive of LGBT people. The campaign for equality for older people will benefit from including the full range of life experience and expertise, and together we can work towards improved policies and services. As well as colleagues at Age & Opportunity, in which I include the members of the Get Vocal Steering group, I would like to acknowledge the work of GLEN and the authors of this report. I also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Atlantic Philanthropies, funders of our Get Vocal programme, without whose support this research would not have been possible. PAGE 5 FOREWORD by Kieran Rose, GLEN Chair The Visible Lives study is the first study of its kind in Ireland. It documents the experiences and needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and draws on these experiences to identify effective strategies to support positive ageing among older LGBT people. This hugely important report gives a detailed description of the lives of the participants, who grew up at a time when they faced considerable prejudice and stigma. For too many, this led to marginalisation from family and community as well as discrimination and exclusion in key areas of their lives. The report also documents the resilience of the participants in dealing with the difficulties they experienced. They expressed a strong sense of pride about being the first generation of ‘out and older’ LGBT people and in seeing a younger generation of LGBT people living their lives in a more open and supportive environment. As they enter the later years of their lives, older LGBT people can be faced with a double invisibility both as older people and as LGBT people. While some of the issues facing older LGBT people may be similar to those for all older people, there is a growing awareness of the need to identify the specific issues older LGBT people face. Participants were particularly concerned that older age services may not recognise or respect their LGBT identity, may not respect their partners in decision-making or may discriminate against them as LGBT people. The participants’ stories are a powerful reminder of the importance of the legislative and social progress of the last twenty years, and the profound impact this has had on their lives and on LGBT people more generally.
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