Policy

How many lesbian, gay and bisexual people are there?
The UK Government uses the figures of 5-7% of the population, which Stonewall , the national organisation that campaigns for legal equality and social justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, also feels is a reasonable estimate.

The American Alfred Kinsey’s research statistics from his two studies Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behaviour in the Human Female (1953), still the most extensive studies of sexual behaviour ever undertaken, also estimated those who are exclusively lesbian or gay at 6.5% of the population, which is consistent with current estimates.

Put another way, we can use these figures to estimate that every fifteenth potential user of a service for older people is a lesbian or a gay man.

At the end of the day, however, there are no hard data on the number of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the UK as no national census has ever asked people to define their sexual orientation – the last census, for example, only monitored same-sex couples who were cohabiting, assuming they honestly filled in the form using the term ‘partner’.

Is homosexuality more common now?
Throughout history there have always been people who have had homosexual feelings and experiences. In fact, in some cultures, at some times, these feelings have been celebrated or at least accepted rather than stigmatised. However two major changes in most of Europe, America and other developed countries have taken place, which may sometimes give the impression that homosexuality is now more prevalent than at any other time:

• images of gay, lesbian and bisexual people, their lives and the issues they face have become more visible in recent years – there are gay and lesbian characters and storylines on TV and powerful gay and lesbian images and image-makers in popular music and culture
• at the same time there have been a series of important struggles for gay and lesbian equality – in Britain this has been marked by the rights to be parents (adoptive and natural), the equalisation of the age of consent for gay men, to fair and equal treatment at work and this year the introduction of Civil Partnership for same-sex couples

These have, as has often been intended, attracted considerable media, political and legal attention, but they indicate first and foremost an increase in visibility and of rights fought for and won, rather than any increase in numbers. In other words, lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are just as numerous in older age groups, but they have on the whole simply been less visible.

Information about lesbian, gay and bisexual ageing
There is a growing body of research in the US that is allowing us to compare older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals with their heterosexual counterparts. They point to some key differences that have profound implications for service providers.

In research conducted by the Brookdale Center on Aging in New York, for example, it was found that older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have significantly diminished support networks when compared to the general older population. Brookdale found that:

• up to 75% of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals live alone (compared to less than 33% in the general older population)
• 90% have no children (compared to less than 20% in the general older population)
• 80% age as single people, without a life partner or ‘significant other’ (compared to less than 40% in the general older population)

When compared to their heterosexual counterparts, therefore, older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are:

• 2½ times as likely to live alone
• twice as likely to age as a single person
• 4½ times as likely to have no children to call upon in times of need

This translates into a lack of traditional support networks that are not replaced by the strength of other close friendships or the size of informal support networks within the lesbian, gay or bisexual community, with the result that:

• 20% of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals indicate they have no one to call on in a time of crisis or difficulty – a rate up to ten times higher than that seen in the general older population

This means that older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are much more reliant on and have a much greater need for professional services and formal support systems in old age than is the case with their heterosexual counterparts. However, other studies in the US have shown that older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals do not access the programmes and services they need. In fact:

• older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals are five time less likely to access services for older people than is the case in the general older population, because they fear discrimination, homophobia and ignorance and that they will have to hide their sexuality

Recent history
Though the beginning of the 21st century marks an unprecedented era of positive change and progress for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in the UK and many other countries, it is important to remember that today’s older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have lived the majority of their lives in far less liberal times. This can have a profound effect both on their preparedness to ‘come out’ as lesbian, gay or bisexual and the way they may view institutions and service providers – who may hitherto have been considered at best indifferent and at worst hostile until proven otherwise.

For example:

• until 1967 male homosexuality was illegal in England and Wales (until 1980 in Scotland and 1982 in Northern Ireland)
• until 1992 homosexuality for both women and men was still considered a mental disorder by the World Health Organisation
• in 1952 almost 4,000 gay men were arrested in this country simply for being gay – many went to prison and many others suffered the indignity (and often permanent physical and psychological damage) of the supposed ‘cures’, which included lobotomies, aversion therapy and chemical castration
• lesbianism only escaped criminalisation ironically – to protect impressionable women: it was feared that mere mention that lesbianism existed was likely to corrupt more women than it protected

All these figures point to the fact that generic providers for older people need to make specific efforts to ensure older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals feel included, able to access services on their own terms, without fear of discrimination, and that the information and services they receive are relevant and responsive to their circumstances and needs.

Contact us

Email:
Opening Doors