While there are many happily retired seniors, others face challenges of which the majority is not aware. At one time or another in Western society, most seniors have or will experience some form of ageism, but seniors who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or two-spirited (LGBTQ2+) may also experience homophobia or transphobia. Often, they endure those prejudices alone and in silence.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada in 1969. In 1998, Canada’s Supreme Court ruled that discrimination based on sexual orientation contravened the law. While these landmarks were important milestones in our journey towards everyone being treated fairly and with dignity, the ruling did not entirely end the prejudice experienced by some members of the LGBTQ2+ community.
Fortunately, there is hope for LGBTQ2+ seniors. Nicole Tremblay is one of the people working to end the prejudice. In her capacity as the Clinical Educator of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Tremblay provides education and practice support to health care staff who provide care to seniors. Included in the broad range of topics covered by her are the issues facing LGBTQ2+ seniors. It does not take long when speaking with Tremblay to see the depth of her knowledge about these issues, and her compassion and empathy for LGBTQ2+ seniors.
“While laws and social norms have evolved regarding the acceptance of the LGBTQ2+ community,” she says, “one does not have to look far to find examples of transphobia or homophobia in our community.”
“LGBTQ2+ seniors fear having to live in a long-term care facility or retirement home because they will be living with other seniors who grew up in times of significant societal prejudice and discrimination against the LGBTQ2+ community.”
Many LGBTQ2+ seniors experience greater social isolation and loneliness than seniors who are not part of their community. Most seniors living in a seniors’ residence or long-term care rely to a great extent on their family for support, especially for frequent visits. However, LGBTQ2+ seniors often have fewer visitors for several reasons, including rejection by their family, the loss of a partner, the loss of friends to AIDS or the fact that many LGBTQ2+ seniors do not have children or extended family.
Some seniors may even request that LGBTQ2+ friends or “families of choice” not visit for fear of being “outed” by association with other LGBTQ2+ community members. “Families of choice” is a term sometimes used by members of the LGBTQ2+ community to refer to people with whom they choose to be surrounded for support, and to whom they may or may not be related biologically or by adoption.
“Many seniors who are part of the LGBTQ2+ community have experienced a lifetime of discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” says Tremblay.
It is difficult for most heterosexuals to know how that discrimination feels, or the effect it can have on one’s confidence and peace of mind.
“Seniors who belong to the LGBTQ2+ community feel anxious about the increased vulnerability and loss of independence that can accompany aging,” she says. “Many fear they will need to hide their sexual identity or moderate their gender expression in some way to receive quality health care, whether it is in a home care or residential care setting.”
Among Tremblay’s efforts to help LGBTQ2+ seniors is the “Dignity Project,” the goal of which is to improve how LGBTQ2+ seniors are treated in long-term care. She wants to end the need for LGBTQ2+ seniors to conceal their identity by raising awareness of this issue; long-term care should be inclusive of diverse individuals. To that end, she has put together excellent teaching materials aimed at increasing sensitivity toward the LGBTQ2+ community.
Many staff working in long-term care have not considered the possibility that residents may be from the LGBTQ2+ community. Given the diversity of Canada’s general population, this is a statistical impossibility. Tremblay’s goal is to end the invisibility of this population in these settings.
Part of the problem is that many administrators of long-term care residences consider it their mission to treat “all people the same,” which sounds reasonable, and aligned with our Canadian values. That is, until you learn that “treat all people the same” means “treat all people as if they are heterosexual.”
Another champion for LGBTQ2+ seniors is Travis Jones, Group Facilitator of the Rainbow Roundtable, which normally meets at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in Metro Vancouver (and now meets online due to COVID-19).
The Rainbow Roundtable is a grassroots community group that relies on community partnerships with local service providers, individuals and businesses who serve LGBTQ2+ seniors.
“It is a safe place where LGBTQ2+ seniors can gather, and thanks to its supporters, the Rainbow Roundtable hosts discussion nights where presenters speak on issues related to aging with health and wellness,” says Jones. “In addition, the Rainbow Roundtable hosts various community activities, arts & crafts, as well as movie and game nights.” [Contact Rainbow Roundtable to learn more about their Zoom meetings during COVID-19.]
Jones’s dedication to helping LGBTQ2+ seniors is hard to miss; he pours himself into his work. After all, many of today’s LGBTQ2+ seniors are among those who did the “heavy lifting” for the right of the LGBTQ2+ community to be accepted as equal members of our society. This makes it all the more disappointing that they feel they must hide their true identity as they enter residences or long-term care in order to avoid being neglected, isolated or made to suffer other forms of prejudice from staff and residents.
Certainly, there is much more work still to be done. However, the contribution of LGBTQ2+ seniors towards creating a more diverse and inclusive society in Canada is something for which we can all be grateful.
Nicole Tremblay welcomes inquiries, and can be reached at Nicole.Tremblay@viha.ca
For more information about the Rainbow Roundtable meetings, which are currently being conducted via Zoom, contact Travis Jones through the Info Line at 604-677-6747 or email at therainbowroundtable@gmail.com
Photo: 42 North from Pexels
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