Health disparities of LGBT older adults
The LGBT community is as any other group of older adults who come from different racial/ethnic, religious/spiritual, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. For most of these older adults, it is fair to say they grew up in a family a society that was unaware or misinformed about what being LGBT was or how people became “that way”. Sadly, the current cohort of LGBT older adults may have experienced a lifetime of discrimination: being shunned by family, friends, religious organizations, and the medical community; ridiculed or physically attacked; or labeled as criminals, perverts, or sinners. In fact, it was not until 1973 that homosexuality was removed as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and statistical Manual of mental disorder of the American Psychiatric Association. Yet, despite this unprecedented and bold stand, the lack of information and misrepresentation in the media of what it meant to be LGBT undoubtedly contributed to continued discrimination and prejudice, which was often expressed in victimization such as threats or attacks to one’s body, joy, or property. In fact, in one survey, 82% of LGBT older adults reported having been victimized at least once, whereas 64% reported having been victimized three or more times in their lifetime. Approximately 25% have experienced discrimination at work, either through denial of a position or a promotion, or supply being fired once their sexual orientation or gender identify become known. Thirteen percent reported either receiving inferior care or being denied cares because of their sexual orientation or gender identify. Given the cumulative effect of such negative experiences, it is surprising that as many as 80% disclose their sexual or gender identify to a health care provider; however, those who were treated worse may not identify as gay at all anymore out of fear of such victimization.