SPIRITUALITY AND LGBT SENIOR

JUSTIN TANIS, GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION

WHO ARE LGBT PEOPLE REALLY?

What do we know about ourselves? Gallup Poll, October 18, 2012, Special Report: 3.4% of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT: Inaugural Gallup findings based on more than 120,000 interviews by Gary J. Gates and Frank Newport

RACE
Overall, a third of LGBT-identifiers are nonwhite (33%), compared with 27% of non-LGBT individuals.

GENDER
more than 53% of LGBT individuals are women.

AGE
LGBT identity declines with age Adults aged 18 to 29 (6.4%) are more than three times as likely as seniors aged 65 and older (1.9%) to identify as LGBT.

EDUCATION
identification as LGBT is highest among Americans with the lowest levels of education - contrary to what other, more limited, studies have shown

INCOME
35% of those who identify as LGBT report incomes of less than $24,000 a year, significantly higher than the 24% for the population in general.

STANDARD OF LIVING
Nearly threequarters of nonLGBT individuals (73%) say they are satisfied with their standard of living, compared with less than two-thirds (65%) of LGBT individuals. Optimistic: Nearly 59% of LGBT individuals say their standard of living is getting better, compared with less than half (49%) of non-LGBT men and women.

CHILDREN
About 32% of both non-LGBT women and LGBT women have children under 18 in the home. LGBT men about half as likely as other men to have children in the home

CHILDREN BY RACE
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Hispanic Black Asian White Women

LGBT Men
Non LGBT Men

REGIONAL
More accepting regions may attract LGBT people to move there. But it may also be the case that social acceptance in the East and West means that LGBT people are more willing to self-identify, because they feel less stigmatized by their identity.

THE AGING AND HEALTH REPORT

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?

What are the (spiritual) implications?
Poverty/economics Racism Children and family Connections with religious communities

Diversity is a spiritual matter

SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF LGBT SENIORS

DIFFERENCES AND COMMONALITIES

UNDERSTANDINGS
Pastoral care and parish settings Research?
Pastoral care books about seniors Studies of LGBT adults

Wide range of perspectives

THREE GROUPS/THREE LENSES

Groups:
1. Out for many years 2. Newly out 3. Followed religious guidance

Lenses
1. Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT people and activities 2. Role of community 3. Contribution of spirituality

FOLLOWED CHURCH GUIDANCE

Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT people and activities Formed the basis of life choices Potential impacts:
May feel it was a positive, moral choice May feel constricted or resentful May have internalized a sense of dis-ease or intolerance, which can be significant and severe

FOLLOWED CHURCH GUIDANCE

Role of community
Religious community may be more important than LGBT community May be intolerant of LGBT seniors

FOLLOWED CHURCH GUIDANCE

Positive contributions of spirituality
Spiritual sustenance of a life of faith Sense of purpose

NEWLY OUT
Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT people and activities May be painfully aware of homophobia Could experience loss of or alienation from a community of faith May experience (realistic) fear of homophobia

NEWLY OUT
Role of community/family Religious community and LGBT community May be seeking new levels of community involvement May need to integrate biological family with new identity

NEWLY OUT
Positive contributions of spirituality Sense of explorationnew spiritual frontiers New identity and excitement

OUT FOR MANY YEARS

Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT people and activities Potential alienation from communities of faith Higher levels of agnostic/atheist May be reluctant to seek services from faithbased social service programs May fear homophobia
Potential separation from partners/friendsrealistic fear Lack of compassionate care (avoidance)

OUT FOR MANY YEARS

Role of community/family Friendship and relationship networks Positive communities of faith

OUT FOR MANY YEARS

Positive contributions of spirituality Sense of self-identity and confidence Less tied to gender roles Strength

RESOURCES
Communities of Faith
LGBT-affirming Remaining within communities

RESOURCES
LGBT Communities
Less age-discriminating than the stereotype Extensive support networks Positive theology about LGBT people Increasing numbers of programs specifically for LGBT seniors

CONCLUSIONS
Spiritual needs of LGBT seniors impacted by
Ongoing negative attitudes of religious institutions Resilience and self-acceptance Strong sense of community and connection

Be aware of partner(s) and friends

Particularly at crisis points (access) Viewing love and bereavement as equal

CONCLUSIONS
Positive LGBT communities and theologies LGBT seniors experience same life-span spiritual needs as their non-LGBT counterparts

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS