The aging process brings challenges for everyone, but for LGBTQ+ seniors, the difficulties can be amplified by past traumas and unique societal circumstances, the Washington Post reports.
With the number of LGBTQ+ seniors expected to double by 2030, their struggles highlight the importance of strengthening traditional values, community ties, and family support systems.
Bill Hall, 71, exemplifies the resilience and hardships faced by older LGBTQ+ individuals. A long-term survivor of HIV, Hall has battled numerous health conditions, including depression and cancer, alongside the lingering effects of childhood trauma. Born into the Tlingit tribe and later removed from his family to attend a government boarding school, Hall experienced abuse that left lasting scars. Despite his efforts to engage with Native American community organizations, he acknowledges the persistent mental exhaustion that comes with aging alone.
Hall’s story is part of a broader narrative affecting 3 million LGBTQ+ Americans over 50, a number that continues to grow. This group faces higher rates of loneliness, health issues, and financial insecurity compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Many lack partners or children to provide care, often relying on government programs or LGBTQ+-specific services.
Historically, societal rejection and the trauma of the AIDS epidemic left a generation of LGBTQ+ individuals with limited support structures. Donald Bell, 74, a co-chair of the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging, reflects on his struggles with poverty and health conditions but remains optimistic, viewing his survival and independence as victories.
While LGBTQ+-friendly housing and therapy programs offer relief, these initiatives are no substitute for traditional family structures, which conservatives often view as vital to societal health. Strengthening intergenerational connections and fostering environments where family support is prioritized could mitigate the isolation many LGBTQ+ seniors experience.
Christopher Christensen, 72, emphasizes the importance of forward-thinking and community-building.
“Many never planned for old age because they didn’t think they’d live this long,” he says.
Thus Christensen urged younger generations to prepare for the future while drawing lessons from the past.
