People over the age of 50 feel less visible ‘especially within the gay community'(Picture: Getty)
Older people in the LGBTQ+ community have told of how they are feeling ‘excluded and isolated’ as they are left behind by a ‘youth-celebrating culture’.
People over the age of 50 feel less visible ‘especially within the gay community’ as they are less likely ‘to have familial networks’, according to charity Open Doors.
They also claim older queer people people are less likely to reach out to external support networks due to ‘distrust in the system’.
John Campbell, 64, who identifies as androsexual, told Metro.co.uk: ‘My experience being an older member of the LGBTQ+ population has been somewhat trying at times, owing to the amount of emotional trauma of the last 40 years which can never be fully healed.
‘At times I feel excluded from the community as it is mainly geared towards younger people.’
A lot of this is due to the fact many people from older generations were lost to the AIDs pandemic.
‘It wiped out a generation of movers and shakers, and has left trauma for so many,’ John said.
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Growing up in a ‘less accepting society’ can also leave people to feel set apart from younger generations.
John Campbell, 64, said his experience of being an older member of the LGBTQ+ community has been ‘trying’ (Picture: John Campbell/Opening Doors)
Angela, 59, who is a transwoman, said: ‘I’ve only been my authentic self for a few years and have the unpleasant experiences associated with a life-time of hiding, self-denial, guilt and feelings of shame, coupled with the somewhat traumatic experiences of coming out to family, friends and colleagues late-on in life.
‘The majority of people my age or older have lived through different times and share a common set of experiences and emotions associated with a far less accepting society.
‘It is a less frightening place to be known as LGBTQ+ than it ever was when I growing up in the 1970s, 80s and even the 90s.’
Now charities are calling for better training and understanding to help those who are feeling isolated.
Angela, 59, said she has had to deal with the ‘traumatic experience’ of coming out later in life (Picture: Sydney McCourt)
Jonathan from Opening Doors UK, which is the only UK charity dedicated to LGBTQ+ people aged 50 or over, said networks need to stop building support systems under the presumption everyone is straight.
He said: ‘As we age, we become less visible in wider society, and this is especially true in the LGBTQ+ community.
‘We don’t have the same familial networks and we can find ourselves increasingly cut off from social networks and services. It can be quite a scary and unsettling experience.’
He added: ‘Because they grew up in a time when they are less tolerated, some of the activities which focus on reminiscing – like memory cafes – aren’t always the best thing to do.
‘LGBTQ+ people also experience health inequalities, as they are more likely to struggle with alcohol and addiction – but they are also less likely to trust the NHS as straight people do, as they can remember a time when conversion therapies were offered.’
‘Everything is set up for straight people without even knowing.’
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‘At times I feel excluded from the community as it is mainly geared towards younger people.’