What distinguishes the needs and concerns of LGBT elders from their heterosexual counterparts and how can I make sure that I am adequately meeting those concerns in my social work practice?

Women and men who are Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual or Transgendered experience varying degrees of rejection and separation from general society. Even in New York City, where many believe its safe to be who I really am, there are incidents of hate crimes against persons who are just being who they are. It's not an accepting and loving world in many places in the USA and throughout the world. Moreover, younger generations may not quite understand and feel for the horrendous stuggles and pain suffered by older LGBT folks. Living in fear and hiding from others was the way of life for so many. That fear and hiding has become engrained in many of our LGBT elders. Unlike their heterosexual peers, LGBT elders had to pretend to be someting they weren't. They had to "pass" for straight in order to have some dregree of acceptance. And the struggle for a long-term and loving, happy relationship with another person was often a elusive dream.

To add misery to misery, younger LGBT often are rejecting of our elders. Often focused only on youth and rejecting older persons, the pain of rejection and lonliness becomes a never ending reality for LGBT elders.

This seems to be such a sad and pessimistic picture that I present, but I present it as a call to Social Workers to recognize the underlying rejection and pain of our LGBT elders. Social Workers need to not only advocate for the individual person to move beyond her/his pain but we need to advocate that community as a whole and the LGBT community in particular come together, not just for a hot dance party but to be a comfort for all of those lesbian, gay, bisexual asnd transgendered folks who need and deserve acceptance.

Peace and Good, Ken

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