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It's My Story: Glad to be Grey?

Glad to be Grey?

19/07/2010

BBC Radio 4 Extra - It's My Story, Glad to be Grey?

Jane Hill talks to older gay people facing life in residential care. Why are they afraid?

Despite enormous advances in gay rights, Jane Hill discovers that institutional homophobia is making some dread the prospect of old age residential care.

A generation of gay people have seen the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the lowering of the age of consent, and the introduction of civil partnerships but now many are having to hide their sexuality as they work out their living arrangements as they get older. Jane Hill asks - are elderly residential homes an option right now if you're gay? 

Age UK has reported that older gay men and lesbians are five times less likely to access services for older people than the general population. In "Glad to be Grey?" we hear older gay men and lesbians talk about their experiences and concerns about the future particularly if they have to go into a residential retirement home. Some have experienced outright hostility from staff or fellow residents in residential care or sheltered housing. Others simply don't expect the straight people they're living with to understand the culture that has formed such an important part of their lives. Having fought the battles for equality do they face the prospect of being marginalised in old age? BBC News presenter Jane Hill examines a subject which has been largely unexplored up until now.

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