Gay Men and Aging


Book Description

Presents the results of three recent studies on aging in homosexual men, focusing on their lives, relationships, hopes and fears, and attitudes about AIDS. Topics include challenges to stereotypes of the older gay male, ageism and heterosexism, social life, and sexual behavior. For undergraduate and graduate students, specialists in aging and gay studies, professionals in social work and counseling, and general readers. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR




Gay Men and Aging


Book Description

First published in 1997 this study presents the results of three recent studies on aging in homosexual men, focusing on their lives, relationships, hopes and fears, and attitudes about AIDS. Topics include challenges to stereotypes of the older gay male, ageism and heterosexism, social life, and sexual behavior.




Sociological Analysis of Aging


Book Description

Sociological Analysis of Aging: The Gay Male Perspective is an exploratory study of the life changes homosexual and bisexual men experience as they age. This unique book presents in-depth, qualitative interviews with gay men, aged 55 and older, focusing on their physical, mental, and social needs. More than one hundred men offer first-hand perceptions on the unique problems they face with regards to employment/retirement, housing, health and well-being, and relationships, and how they function within (or without) a social support system. Sociological Analysis of Aging fills in the gaps in the existing social science literature on homosexuals and aging, updating findings that were inconclusive when first published and/or based on case studies or limited samples. While standard books on aging typically deal with the impact of life events such as child rearing, the empty nest syndrome, and grandparenting, Sociological Analysis of Aging deals with the unique realities that gay men face in addition to the universal concerns of the elderly: affordable health care, affordable housing, and adequate coverage for medication costs. The study examines what can be done to assist “successful” aging for sexual minorities, particularly in the areas of social policy, service delivery, and public tolerance. Sociological Analysis of Aging focuses on specific research questions: Do aging gay men consider themselves to be physically healthy? Do aging gay men suffer from depression? Do aging gay men have access to social support networks? What are the housing needs of the aging gay community—present and future? How involved are aging gay men with family, friends, church, and community? In addition, the men interviewed were asked what, if anything, was left on a “to-do” list; what the best and worst aspects of aging are; and what, if anything, they would change about the course their lives had taken. Their answers make Sociological Analysis of Aging: The Gay Male Perspective an essential resource for therapists, counselors, and social workers, and for academics working in sociology, psychology, gerontology, and gay studies.




Reeling in the Years


Book Description

"Reeling in the Years illustrates the wide range of emotions at work in younger/older gay male relationships - from fear and loathing to love and happiness. Beneath the bitchy asides, passionate relationships, rock-solid friendships, and hateful distrust, men struggle to answer the question: "Can older gay men really be friends with younger gay men?" In their own words, hundreds of men discuss what it's like to be 16, 28, 40, or 70, examining myth and reality about age and aging from different attitudes and perspectives."--Jacket.




Queer Aging


Book Description

"The aging of gay men is as revolutionary as the gay liberation and AIDS movements were. With the aging of Baby Boomer generation, we are witnessing a new phenomenon: gay men entrance to old age. This is transforming our views of old age, the composition of LGBTQ communities, and the field of gerontology. Queer Aging timely addresses the question: What is like to be an older gay man? It brings the stories and the voices of a diverse group of men to uncover the aging experience and examine how race, AIDS, and age together are shaping the lives of these men"--




Sociological Analysis of Aging


Book Description

Sociological Analysis of Aging: The Gay Male Perspective is an exploratory study of the life changes homosexual and bisexual men experience as they age. This unique book presents in-depth, qualitative interviews with gay men, aged 55 and older, focusing on their physical, mental, and social needs. More than one hundred men offer first-hand perceptions on the unique problems they face with regards to employment/retirement, housing, health and well-being, and relationships, and how they function within (or without) a social support system. Sociological Analysis of Aging fills in the gaps in the existing social science literature on homosexuals and aging, updating findings that were inconclusive when first published and/or based on case studies or limited samples. While standard books on aging typically deal with the impact of life events such as child rearing, the empty nest syndrome, and grandparenting, Sociological Analysis of Aging deals with the unique realities that gay men face in addition to the universal concerns of the elderly: affordable health care, affordable housing, and adequate coverage for medication costs. The study examines what can be done to assist "successful" aging for sexual minorities, particularly in the areas of social policy, service delivery, and public tolerance. Sociological Analysis of Aging focuses on specific research questions: Do aging gay men consider themselves to be physically healthy? Do aging gay men suffer from depression? Do aging gay men have access to social support networks? What are the housing needs of the aging gay community--present and future? How involved are aging gay men with family, friends, church, and community? In addition, the men interviewed were asked what, if anything, was left on a "to-do" list; what the best and worst aspects of aging are; and what, if anything, they would change about the course their lives had taken. Their answers make Sociological Analysis of Aging: The Gay Male Perspective an essential resource for therapists, counselors, and social workers, and for academics working in sociology, psychology, gerontology, and gay studies.




The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People


Book Description

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals-often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT-are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore, the experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People assesses the state of science on the health status of LGBT populations, identifies research gaps and opportunities, and outlines a research agenda for the National Institute of Health. The report examines the health status of these populations in three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early/middle adulthood, and later adulthood. At each life stage, the committee studied mental health, physical health, risks and protective factors, health services, and contextual influences. To advance understanding of the health needs of all LGBT individuals, the report finds that researchers need more data about the demographics of these populations, improved methods for collecting and analyzing data, and an increased participation of sexual and gender minorities in research. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People is a valuable resource for policymakers, federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), LGBT advocacy groups, clinicians, and service providers.




Gay Men at Midlife


Book Description

“Those of us in our forties and fifties came of age in the 1960s and 1970s--a time when the available commentary on gay life was anything but supportive. Until 1973, homosexuality was a diagnosable mental illness.” --from the Introduction by Alan L. Ellis Today, that literary blindness is being remedied. Take an in-depth look into the lives of 15 gay men and how they relate to their own aging with Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty, a fascinating new book that explores and clarifies the issues that confront gay men as they age. What happens to gay men's lives when they reach middle age? The essays in Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty offer a realistic picture of both the challenges and the joys that present themselves in the lives of gay men at midlife. The book does not gloss over the difficulties of the experience; you will truly come to understand that each gay man is not alone in confronting the pain and mourning that may accompany middle age. The people who frankly, openly, and intelligently discuss their personal lives in Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty include: psychotherapist/popular columnist Tom Moon (San Francisco, California) professor of philosophy and literature Alejandro Medina-Bermudez (Madrid, Spain) television executive George Pierson (Bethesda, Maryland) multimedia artist Trevor Southey (born in the country now known as Zimbabwe, currently working in San Francisco) activist/researcher Frank Wong (New York) . . . plus 10 more individuals from varying backgrounds! Gay Men at Midlife: Age Before Beauty provides a look at how these individuals are redefining the stereotypes of aging gay men and empowering themselves to find meaning and purpose in the second half of their lives.




Gay and Lesbian Aging


Book Description

The year 2003 marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark "declassification" of homosexuality as a disease by the American Psychiatric Association--a watershed in the lives of gays and lesbians in the United States. For the first time in history, a generation of self-identified lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals are approaching retirement. This volume brings to the forefront important issues concerning the health, mental health, and concomitant special social service needs of this population and emphasizes the need for more research on aging sexual minorities. Based on empirical and qualitative research methods, chapters focus on the myriad issues of aging for lesbians and gay men including: Social and Cultural Considerations about HIV Among Midlife and Older Gay Men Psychological Well-Being in Midlife Older Gay Men Well-Being Among Middle-Aged and Older Single Gay Men Lesbian Friendships at and Beyond Midlife Contributors include Judith Barker, Jacqueline Weinstock, Bertram Cohler, and Doug Kimmel, among others.




Middle-Aged Gay Men, Ageing and Ageism


Book Description

Is midlife for gay men the start of a slide towards the rejection, exclusion and misery associated with the spectre of the lonely old queen? Whilst exclusion is possible as gay men age, Middle Aged Gay Men, Ageing and Ageism offers a more nuanced view of gay ageing, using sociological tools to advance understanding beyond stereotypes.