Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People in Retirement

Many of the same concerns, but different barriers compared to heterosexual peers. Although they share many of the same human needs and concerns with their heterosexual peers, gay and lesbian elders often experience particular barriers as well. Those barriers include discrimination; unequal treatment under Social Security, pension plans, and 401(k)s; and concerns related to housing, healthcare, and long-term care. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) elderly population, currently estimated at from i million to 3 million people, will increase to between 4 million and 6 million by 2030 (Cahill, South, and Spade, 2000). We can only estimate because most research does not ask about sexual orientation or gender identity. Gerontologists and government researchers could capture much needed information on gay elders by adding a standard sexual orientation "self-identifier" to all surveys. Many gerontologists do acknowledge the need for more research on LGBT elders. But the limited research that does exist indicates that older gay people tend to live out the last decades of their lives very much as they have lived the middle decades. Several studies point to a phenomenon called "crisis competence," whereby the stress and pain of living through years as the targets of homophobia and discrimination do serve to prepare gay elders for the stresses of getting old. In addition, LGBT baby boomers- "out"for most of their lives-are increasingly unwilling to retreat to the closet when they encounter homophobia in aging services. Most gay people of all ages have experienced both "heterosexism" and homophobia. The psychologist Gregory Herek defines heterosexism as "an ideological system that denies, denigrates and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship or community. " Homophobia is the fear or hatred of lesbian and gay people based on perceived or actual sexual orientation (Herek, 1992). People also experience gender-related bias because they do not fit into expected male-female gender roles (Green, 1994). People acting out antigay bias may use derogatory language, engage in discriminatory behavior, or even perpetrate violence against LGBT people. Heterosexist attitudes and assumptions can interfere with the well-being and happiness of BT elders. As gay people grow older and rely increasingly on public programs and social services for care and assistance, they may become less independent from heterosexist institutions and peers. The fear of experiencing discrimination can reinforce social isolation and keep gay elders from making use of healthcare and other services. Gay elders often experience homophobia in senior services. For example, in a 1994 study, 46 percent of New York state's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) -the regional entities that distribute federal funds for senior services-- reported that openly gay and lesbian elders would not be welcome at senior centers in their areas. And only ig percent of the lesbian and gay elders interviewed had any involvement with their local senior center (Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network, 1994). INCOME SUPPORT PROGRAMS Gay and lesbian elders have various problems in relation to the traditional income support mechanisms of Social Security, pension plans, and plans like 401k) s. Social Security. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. retirees rely on Social Security for more than half of their annual income; for 15 percent of elders, Social Security is their only source of income (Liu,1999). But lesbians and gay men in same-sex partnerships are not eligible for the spousal benefit or the survivor benefit that Social Security offers to their heterosexual counterparts. This lack of eligibility costs lesbian and gay elders hundreds of millions of dollars in unaccessed income every year. Social Security survivor benefits allow widows, widowers, and dependent children to put food on the table when the beneficiary dies. …