The Road Ahead: LGBT Boomers Become Elders

The Road Ahead: LGBTBoomers Become Elders James H. Brown, Ph.D., DirectorNorth Shore School for Seniors Whitefish Bay, WI Osher- UWM, Spring, 2016

Hello! I’m James BrownOld dog… new tricks?Careers in …Rubber Chemistry, BA, @ age 25 Computer Repair, AAS, @ age 53 Gerontology, @ age 57 Adult & Continuing Education, PhD, @ age 62 and now… Glad to be here!

Today’s presentation… Web: jhbrownphd.comEmail: james@jhbrownphd.com

Life starts and happens… Our first summer together as(Bob & Jim) …Met on AOL online @ age 47 He was younger @ age 38

A few bumps in the roadGrowing old together (Bob & Jim) … Started over my career @ age 50 Life: Cancer (me) @ age 64 Life: Heart Bypass (him) @ age 58 and now… Still glad to be here, 20 years together!

Cohorts and Generations • Cohort • Born within the same 5 to 10 year period • Develop a common history of shared experiences • Generation (22-25 year period) • Layers of a family tree • Span life phases

Generational Cohorts • Strauss and Howe (1991) postulate a Theory of Generations consisting of cohorts spanning 22-year intervals called cohort generations • Four life phases within a generation • A peer personality defines the cohort • Social moments bring cohesion

The Order of Things(Strauss and Howe, 1991; Grabinski, 1998) Cohorts give rise to Generations which define Life phases determined by Social moments giving rise to Peer personalities as seen in LGBT Boomers!

Generations Now “On Stage” • Silents (1925-1942) • Boomers (1943-1960) • 13ers (1961-1981) • Includes Generation X • Millennials (1982-2005) • Includes Generation Y (Strauss & Howe, 1991)

Life Phases • Life Phase Central Role • Youth (age 0-21) dependence • Young Adult (age 22-43) activity • Midlife (age 44-65) leadership • Elderhood (age 66-87) stewardship • Late elderhood (age 88-109) life review

Peer Personalities • Strauss and Howe (1991) postulate a peer personality that defines a set of common attitudes a generation has about “family life, sex roles, institutions, politics, religion, lifestyle, and the future.” Social moments shape them.

Social Moments • Two social moment eras • Each lasts two life phases (45 years) • Alternating cycles (first one, then other) • Secular crises • Outer focus on institutions • Public behaviors • Spiritual awakenings • Inner focus on values • Private behaviors

Four Generational Types • Dominant Idealist (Boomers) • Archetype-hero: prophet • Recessive Reactive (13ers – Gen X) • Archetype-hero: nomad • Dominant Civic (Millennials – Gen Y) • Archetype-hero: leader • Recessive Adaptive (Silents) • Archetype-hero: artist

Silents (1925-1942) • Great Depression • WW II • Leaders for the Civil Rights Movement • Early marriage, child-birth • Early retirements • Silent females • Strong communication and negotiation • Emphatic as elders

Boomers (1943-1960) • Dr. Spock; Woodstock; Vietnam • AIDS; Smoking; Cancer • Close to mothers, distant to fathers • Quest for self- Zen • Foster crisis rather than solutions • Avoid military service • Want explicit and increasing authority • Defend conservative values • Destined to be wise elders

13ers (1961-1981) • Generation of “leftovers” from Boomers • HIV; Three Mile Island; 9/11; ?? • Single parent homes; abortions • Prefer military service • Labeled as “lost” and “ruined” • Fast-learners, pragmatic • Survivors • Destined to be tough elders

Millennials (1982-2005) • Planned-for and protected children • TV; Cell phones; Computers; Drugs • Home study; Rising academics • Needed for the new military • Likely to be good warriors • Civic leaders • Build and re-structure society • Destined to be moral elders

Overview: Boomers Retiring • AARP’s (1998) “Segmentation Analysis” of Boomers approaching retirement found five types: • Strugglers (9%) • No retirement savings; cannot stop working • Anxious (23%) • Worried about health care; must work some • Enthusiasts (13%) • Can’t wait to retire; will not work at all • Self Reliants (30%) • Retirement secure; will work for enjoyment • Traditionalists (25%) • Confident in Social Security and Medicare; volunteers

Senior Moment Can you see how the context of the generational cohort can have profound effects on an individual segment of it (such as the LGBT) and society as a whole?

Gay Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term was originally used to mean "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy". By the end of the 20th century, the word gay was recommended by major LGBT groups and style guides to describe people attracted to members of the same sex. At about the same time, a new, pejorative use became prevalent in some parts of the world. In the Anglosphere, this connotation, among younger speakers, has a meaning ranging from derision (e.g., equivalent to rubbish or stupid) to a light-hearted mockery or ridicule (e.g., equivalent to weak, unmanly, or lame).

Other: Chávez Guido-DiBrito 2003 Model for Valuing the Other in Your Life Experiences- Learning Diversity

Integrating Experiences Your Life As you encounter people and life aspects different from you, you can choose to move from unawareness to validating these encounters by integrating them into your own life

The LGBT/Boomer Cohort In the discussion that follows, we look at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) segment of the Boomers. As members of this generational cohort, LGBT members demonstrate every demographic, which shapes and reflects their individual choices, needs, and lifestyles.

Outing Age—What’s Ahead For LGBT Boomers • Cahill, S., South, K., & Spade, J.Outing age: Public policy issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elders (2000). N.Y.:Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation (NGLTF) • References to most facts to follow are found in the notes of this report • Handouts are provided for key references taken from the NGLTF report; they are extensive

LGBT Elder Population • LGBT = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender • Estimated 3 to 8% of U. S. population • 72 million baby boomers • In 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65 • This means 2 to 6 million LGBT elders in this cohort

LGBT Elder Population • LGBT elders are among the most invisible demographic in America • Not counted in U.S. Census or federal forms • In 1990, same-sex couples counted in Census • Views not reflected in U.S. policy or programs • Result: underserved & understudied population • LGBT elders face two pervasive barriers which lead to widespread discrimination • Ageism • Heterosexism

LGBT Families • “Gay” and “Family” Not Mutually Exclusive • One in 3 gay men or lesbians provide care assistance to adults or children • Institutionalized heterosexism leads to policy that: • Prohibits gay marriage or spousal status • Limits access to federal programs • Refuses equal hospital or nursing home care and/or partner visitation • Provides no tax, pension, or survival benefits

The Gay Contexts

Heterosexism • “An ideological system that denies, denigrates and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship, or community.” (Herek, G. M., 1992) • Note the inclusiveness of this definition • A fundamental part of life expectancies of most LGBT people • Still true in spite of many advances made during 30 years of activism (Stonewall, 1969, was beginning)

Heterosexism in America • Anti-gay attitudes predominate the elderly • Index of Homophobia (Hudson & Ricketts, 1980) • Homophobia • “Fear or hatred of, or aversion to, sometimes related to homoerotic feelings and desires within oneself.” (Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, 1992) • 52% of elders age 65-72; 41% of elders age 73 or over were homophobic in a survey of 99 elderly, using the Index of Homophobia (Garrett, 1994)

Heterosexism in America • Fear of discrimination can lead to Social isolation, increased self-neglect, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality; this is an especially high risk for transgender persons • Transphobia “Devaluing of, exclusion of, or discrimination against people on the basis of perception of them as gender variant.” (Green, 1994)

Ageism • “Ageism is the devaluing of, exclusion of, or discrimination against people because of their age.” (Cahill et al., 1999) • More than just an attitude, it involves organizational structure • Internalized ageism is exhibited by gay men, who often experience themselves as old at age 30

Growing Old As Gay Boomer • Boomer cohort suggests that later life is not one of loneliness and isolation • Life experience, cohort peers influence views and adjustment to age • Nurturing friendships important • Healthy, well-adjusted aging possible for both gay men and lesbians • Gay men may be “crisis-competent” because they handle own needs earlier than married men

Defining the Gay Cohort:Stonewall (1969) • The current cohorts for LGBT persons could be classified based on the first activist movement of gay culture, at Stonewall • Stonewall bar • June 1969 • Greenwich Village, New York • Birth of modern gay liberation movement

Defining the Gay Cohort:Stonewall (1969) • Pre-Stonewall (1940’s) • Quiet, discreet, invisible; now in their 80’s • Stonewall age (1960’s) • Great social progress; now in their 50’s • HIV/AIDS crisis added to self-identities • Post-Stonewall (1980’s) • Post AIDS generation; openly gay; in their 20’s • Millennials (2000’s) • An age of earlier expression of homosexuality • Greater tolerance but also complexity

Issues for Gay Boomers

Research • Problem: Little policy analysis or research into particular policy needs of LGBT elders has been conducted • Solution: Push for funding from the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) with regard to research on • Needs and concerns of LGBT seniors • Evaluation of existing services for LGBT • Gerontology and social work curricula to train aging specialists

Services • Key agency for this problem is the Area Agencies on Aging, which submit plans and provide funding under the Older Americans Act (OAA,1965). The OAA has provisions for services to elders in Has provisions for services to elders in • Social services: outreach, transportation, programs • In-home services: meals, home health care • Community services: senior centers, and abuse prevention • Caregiver services: respite, adult day care, education

Services Problem • Services, training, and caregiving often exclude LGBT seniors • While 62% of LGBT seniors want separate service organizations, 64% of Area Agencies on Aging surveyed disagreed (Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network, 1994) • According to Rosenfeld (1999), 75% of LGBT seniors lived alone; few have health care coverage or children to provide caregiving

Services Solution • Re-authorize the Older Americans Act (1965) and provide proper funding • Maintain inclusive language in Part E of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) • Apply for funding under Part F of the NFCSP for State and Local Innovation Programs of National Significance • Work with the AAAs to get better services and support for LGBT seniors

Family Problems • LGBT families are often deprived of the rights and privileges that heterosexual families automatically receive. • Thirty-two states have passed laws banning same-sex marriage since 1996 • Hospital visitation, employee health benefits, Social Security benefits, etc.

Family-Social Security • Problem: Unequal treatment of same-sex partners in regard to survival and spousal benefits • No survival benefit for partners; loss of survival benefit ($442/month, 1999) is $4.1 billion/ yr. • Spouses, but not partners, can receive a larger benefit if married partner has substantially larger check (spouse receives half of larger check) • Disability benefits for same-sex partners is not payable; loss is half the benefit to the spouse

Family-Medicaid • Problem: LGBT partners do not have assets protected for a Medicaid spend-down • Legally married spouses will not lose a home if partner uses Medicaid to enter a nursing home • Partners often cannot occupy the same home, and cannot be intimate

Family-Pensions • Problem: No pension or 401(k) benefit payable to partner if other dies before benefit is payable. • No inheritance protection; benefits are taxable as income with 20% penalty. • No rollover benefit • No hardship withdrawal benefit

Family-Civil Marriage • Problem: It is estimated that 1,049 protections, benefits, and responsibilities under federal law are denied same-sex couples. • The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) limits benefits to married spouses for most federal regulations • A few states are far ahead of the federal government, but there has been a recent backlash to repeal these laws

Family Solutions • Amend the Social Security Act to provide same-sex couple benefits • Change Medicaid to allow spend-down protections for partners • Change pension and tax laws to recognize domestic same-sex and opposite-sex relationships • Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (1996) • Repeal the anti-gay marriage bans of the various states

Housing Problems • Fair Housing Act does not explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity • Nursing homes, assisted living centers, congregate housing, and home health care services need diversity training to deal with sexual needs and privacy rights of LGBT seniors • 52% of nursing home social workers surveyed said their staff were intolerant or condemning of homosexual activity between residents; 38% declined to answer the question. (Fairchild et al., 1996)

Housing Solutions • Amend the Fair Housing Act and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provisions to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity • Train nursing home staff to better understand the needs of LGBT clients • Nursing homes should have explicit policies protecting the rights and privacy of residents

Healthcare Problems • Medicare • LGBT elders suffer from physician bias; transgender people may have a particular problem using managed health care • Prescription drug plans are not affordable; with Medicare Part D coverage may be lost

Healthcare Problems • Elder abuse education is needed so that LGBT seniors are not the targets of abuse and neglect • HIV/AIDS education is needed; this group is at risk for cancer, AIDS, tobacco and alcohol abuse, hate violence, and domestic violence • Gender Identity Disorder (transgender) • Dual standard: considered variant enough to be a psychiatric disorder, but not pathological enough to qualify for medical treatment

The Road Ahead: LGBT Boomers Become Elders