Know what sucks about growing old? Growing old. Know what sucks about growing old and being gay? Youâre more likely to suffer isolation and mental anguish than breeders.
So conclude UCLA researchers who looked at data from more than 1,000 Californians aged 50-70. And while self-identifying gay adults were more likely to be better educated (and, it turns out, less racially diverse) than heterosexuals, they were also more likely to face more health issues.
Health differences were most common for men. Aging gay and bisexual men were 1.5 times more likely to rate their own health as fair or poor than were heterosexual men with similar demographics. They also had significantly higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, psychological distress and physical disability. And 50.5 percent of gay and bisexual men lived alone, compared to just 13.4 percent of their heterosexual counterparts. âThey are in a particularly vulnerable situation,â [the studyâs lead researcher Steven] Wallace said. âIf you have a fall, if you need somebody to take you to the doctor, need somebody to help you with medications, thatâs more of a challenge.â
The same was true for women. One in four lesbian and bisexual women lived alone, compared to one in five heterosexual women. The report found significantly higher rates of psychological distress, physical disability and self-reported health as fair or poor among lesbian and bisexual women.
The isolation can, to a degree, be explained by the fewer number of children gay seniors have. They may also be alienated from their family and lack intergenerational support. But whatâs all this about the disproportionate rate of health issues?
Still, there were few differences between heterosexual, and lesbian, gay and bisexual adults in their access to and use of health care services. Gay and bisexual men delayed care or prescriptions and visited the emergency room at about the same rate as heterosexual men. However, they were 1.19 times more likely to have visited the doctor more than three times in the past year. But among lesbian and bisexual women, more than one in four reported delaying care â a rate 1.28 times greater than that of heterosexual women. They were also 1.09 times more likely to have had three or more doctor visits in the past year.
Help me figure this one out: Gays and lesbians are more likely to delay care, but also more likely to have made trips to the doctor. Which means ⊠what? That even though gay seniors are putting off their medical needs, since they have more of them theyâre seeking treatment more often?
How about we take this to the next level?
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WillBFair
One word: uncaring families, memories of oppressive experiences, and ageist bigotry in the gay cummunity.
PTBoat
I cannot imagine how they got their study group. One of the first things that struck me is the lack of racial diversity amongst the group. What the people who conduct these studies fail to remember is the number of closeted people that are still out there. They also do not seem to account for the discriminatory practices of elder care that still exist, nor do they take into account that this elder generation is one that is still dealing with their own cultural ideas of homosexuality as well as those of their peers. If one were to poll older, heterosexual, seniors one would find that they are by and large a homophobic group. These are people who are still dealing with the baggage that was handed to them early on. I wonder what the outcome will be as we develope a more equitabe system. I’m in my forties and I’m pretty sure, with a loving family and my husband, that my advanced years are going to be great in comparison to a lot of older people today and, especially, in the past.
kayla
It’s sort of basic…Senior Citizens need kids and grandkids to dote on…Who are you gonna eat thanksgiving turkey with when you’re seventy-five, a bunch of other old folks at some home…or are you gonna be surrounded by your children and grandkids…pretty basic stuff.
Black Pegasus
After 40, being gay is just a curse. We will ultimately become middle aged bitter queens (no matter our socio-economics). Yes people, you might as well accept it now. Our future is one that includes Loneliness, Isolation, Pain and Depression.
I’m gonna go have another drink and log onto a hook-up site. Enjoy your day ladies and gents. lol
ewe
@Black Pegasus: Who is funding your study? What a bunch of bullshit you just said. Cynical. Victimhood. You sound so pathetically bitter and to say every gay person above 40 is cursed is so fucking ignorant. You obviously are 21 and into nightclubbing or the one sad character you try to convince everyone else is going to be. Older Gay people have faced a lifetime of oppression and the medical field will tell you that positive energy certainly assists in healing. ASSHOLE.
ewe
@Black Pegasus: Tell me you were being facetious or i am going to continue to rub your face in the dirt.
Oprah
I think Gay community should conduct a thorough study and research of gay sexual roles–such as Top,Bottom and Versitile. It is true homo culture is age-ist–but i think if you look deeper, breeders also have ageist culture as well.In fact, i would say–there are “as much” single heterosexual older women than there are single homosexual “bottom” older male. The reason i say this is—if you are a Gay top dude– you have higher chances of NOT being single or alone, than if you were a Gay bottom dude.Older Heterosexual men divorce their older wives and replace them with younger wives.(Hence the implication,a hetero man chooses not to be single, and not the other way aroud). Also, there are many bottoms in the gay community than there are tops. Just like there are as many women in hetero world than there are men.Hence , again the old Capitalist adage- supply does NOT meet demand ratio. LOL
But the winner here is the Vesitiles, i mean those really really Versitile ones.(not the versitle closeted bottoms) I think they may have a better chance than both the tops and bottoms. LOL (But Versitle-top, again tend to have better chances than their counter-parts versitile bottom)
In the end, it just comes down to the primal dominance of -the fcuker–wears the pants and has the last word. LOL
Black Pegasus
@ewe: I was being indeed being facetious, and I was being hyperbolic in order to drive home my point.
This study is an indication that we in the gay community have our work cut out for us.
I would ask you for an apology, but I understand ‘some’ peoples’ inability to grasp sarcasm coupled with extreme wit. Good Day đ
Black Pegasus
To add: I think our problems with being gay is narcissim and superficiality. Sure, bigotry from family and breeders are partly to blame, but most of our depression and loneliness stems from our own doing. Our gym memberships and german cars will not bring us “genuine” happiness.
Jeffree
@Oprah: we in gay community love vesitiles because there is “as much” heterosexual bottom willing than there is as gay top. There is many verstitles to study.
Oprah
Jeffree,
Hence, i said- Versitiles are “Winners”.
PS Didnt mean to immitate Charlie Sheen. LOL
hephaestion
The studies I’ve seen say the exact opposite… that gay men in particular enjoy their elder years far more than straights because we have so many interests and more friends than heteros have. And that we take better care of our health & fitness than hetero old men.
GRAMPS
See.. there were benefits to being in the closet all those years.
My partner and I have: four Kids; six grandchildren and counting.
They come to our house for Thanksgiving / xmas
(We go to the doctor, ‘cuz he is hot. Not ‘cuz we are sick.)
dra
jesus christ, can you people look up how to spell ‘versatile’ already?
Jeffree
@dra:, LOL, you noticed that too, eh? Sorry to see that your caps lock is broken, though. Time for a different keyboard, maybe?
ewe
@Black Pegasus: No, you are within your rights to ask for an apology if what you meant was in good humor. I thought as much after i made my first comment so i apologize to you for misunderstanding your point. Your second statement about people being unable to grasp your personal style is a direct dig at me and now you owe me an apology. Your further comment in No. 9 is not exclusively gay related and has no bearing here when speaking specifically of an aging homosexual person. Good day to you Caddy Bitch. lol oops sorry.
Black Pegasus
@ewe: I think you meant “Catty” not Caddy đ
margaret
I have a grandson who is gay and whom we all (family) love dearly. He has one platonic friend whom we also love and has become part of our family. I worry about my grandson and my adopted grandson. I know that there are times when they hurt emotionally due to rejection by someone they cared for. I am so concerned about their senior years. I won’t be around for long, but I still worry about them. The thought of either one of them being alone and treated badly by people pains me greatly. I’m here reading these posts because I’m looking for someone to tell me that they will be alright.
ewe
@margaret: They will be alright and your worrying is a waste of time for them but especially for your own good health. Stop it right this second and calm down. There are plenty of gay people who have extended family members and the future will be about living in communes of like minded people anyway. Billie Jean King is taking the lead in such areas and it will continue. I find this to be all about fear. Heterosexual widows and widowers go through the same thing. You may be thinking your gay grandson will not be having children and you may be wrong about that. Gay people are parenting more and more often. You are worrying about the unknown and that is just not rationale. You must find a way not to do that for your own sake. Good luck.
Kev C
@margaret: What ewe said. Having a healthy relationship with the family is a good indication that your grandson will do well. Many do not have good family relations and become screwed up like me.
Michael
I agree and being gay in your 50’s especially when you have no partner and you family is deceased is very isolating. I work and I am vcery sucessful in my career but the isolation really bothers me. I don’t relate to typical gay men as I am very smart and not interesested in talking about skin creams or who I am sleeping with. I have cerebal palsey and a deformed spine. I could hide it in my 20’s but not at 56. No one wants to date someone who walks with a limp and is slightly out of shape.