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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2007)
(northwest Surveying Needs Sexual minority seniors polled on experiences by Patricia L. MacAodha ou’ve marched in many Pride parades, i The stories come from seniors and their Perhaps you even remember Stonewall. families—sometimes simply sad, while others You’ve fought for your civil rights, and border on horror—about queer brothers and sisters if you’re somewhere between 60 and 80, who have been thrown, unprepared, into the world you feel you shouldn’t have to fight for of senior services. It’s not an atmosphere known to your dignity anymore—but now it all begins again. be friendly to our kind. As a boomer, you’re beginning to age, and some Happily, some local members of the sexual World War II babies are pushing 70. Some of you minorities community are doing their best to assure might be looking at assisted living or other special queer-friendly resources will be available and to push residential options as you age. for zero tolerance of homophobic treatment of sexu A cooperative effort involving Elder Resource al minority elders through a combination of effective Alliance (ERA), Senior Housing and Retirement policies and diversity training for management and Enterprises (SHARE) and a housing committee of staff involved in elder care and programming. gay and lesbian participants who have worked with The collaborative survey interviews discovered both bodies has resulted in a survey geared toward concerns about “conditions; acceptance; access to determining how queer elders are treated in assist bulletin boards; a wider variety of activities; gay, ed living centers and independent living settings. lesbian, bisexual and transgender staff members; and The committee wanted to know what would access to transportation,” said committee member constitute an atmosphere that is welcoming, affirm Diane Tourigny. Also noted were high staff turnover ing and nurturing to queer seniors. A preliminary and the predominance on staffs of recent immigrants application surveyed 12 such residents. who “evangelized to hate queers” and have engaged The need for the survey stemmed from, among in behaviors that have resulted in unacceptable other factors, a report released in April 2003 by the neglect and abuse of sexual minority elders. Gerontological Society of America. According to The results of the preliminary survey will be that report, “Older gay men and lesbians often incorporated into the next phase of the commit mistrust the health and social service networks as tee’s research, which will be to approach senior a result of lifelong experiences of marginalization program administrators and staff members willing and oppression...discrimination that continues in to answer the questions. An anticipated follow-up many social and institutional environments.” would include agreeing to schedule diversity trainings for their staffs. Another result will be to create a database to provide information for sen iors on which residences and ERA program coordinator Rachel Indigo Cerise Baum believes programs are gay-friendly and diversity training is vital to senior centers. who will provide services equal to what’s available to heterosexual elders. bulletin board problem, citing the importance for ERA program coordinator Rachel Indigo Cerise queer seniors to have access to information about Baum says queer seniors are “five times less likely community events. (Homophobic hands remove than heterosexual seniors" to pursue services to queer event fliers posted at senior-serving assisted elders “because of real or perceived experiences of living centers). Loss of such information can result rejection and ridicule.” She has collected incidents in deepening isolation for sexual minority elders. experienced by queer seniors that point out how The survey discovered that few senior facilities offer vital the database and diversity training can be. options for marginalized queer seniors to protest An elderly woman with Alzheimer’s, attending homophobic treatment. While government over a dance, had danced with several men. When she sight includes nondiscrimination regulations, they began dancing with another woman, staff members don’t apply to other residents. immediately intervened and pulled her away. In The housing committee is seeking more inter another incident, a group of residents walked by viewers, according to Tourigny. She believes safety a queer senior, and one remarked, “Oh, there’s one of and inclusion in senior facilities affects everyone. No matter what your age, this is about your future. © them." Attempting to explain the situation, a woman later came to the senior’s door and said, “They said that because they think you’re gay.” The person “meant to be helpful," Baum says, but the result for the individual was fear, uncertainty and further isolation in the living environment. This person is so fearful that Baum asked that gender be excluded from this report. Both Baum and Tourigny mentioned the FOUR For more information about SENIOR HOUSING AND R etirement E nterprises visit www.sharepdx.org. For more information about ELDER RESOURCE ALLIANCE visit www.elderresourcealliance org. P atricia L. M ac A odha is a Portland freelance writer. 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