spirituality and lgbt seniors

7/30/2019 Spirituality and LGBT Seniors

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J U S T I N T A N I S , G R A D U A T E T H E O L O G I C A L U N I O N

SPIRITUALITY AND

LGBT SENIOR



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 ofLGBT-identifiers arenonwhite (33%),compared with 27%of non-LGBT

individuals.”



GENDER

• “more than 53% ofLGBT individuals arewomen.”



AGE

• “LGBT identitydeclines with age”

• “Adults aged 18 to29 (6.4%) are morethan three times aslikely as seniors

aged 65 and older (1.9%) to identify asLGBT.”



EDUCATION

• “ identification asLGBT is highestamong Americans

with the lowestlevels of education -- contrary to whatother, morelimited, studies haveshown”



INCOME

• “35% of those whoidentify as LGBTreport incomes ofless than $24,000 ayear, significantlyhigher than the 24%

for the population ingeneral.”



STANDARD OF LIVING

• “Nearly three-quarters of non-LGBT individuals

(73%) say they aresatisfied with their standard of living,compared with lessthan two-thirds(65%) of LGBTindividuals.”

• Optimistic: “Nearly

59% of LGBTindividuals say their

standard of living isgetting better,compared with lessthan half (49%) ofnon-LGBT men andwomen.”



CHILDREN

• “About 32% of bothnon-LGBT womenand LGBT women

have children under 18 in the home. “

• “LGBT men abouthalf as likely as

other men to havechildren in thehome”



CHILDREN BY RACE

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Hispanic Black Asian White

Women

LGBT Men

Non LGBT Men



REGIONAL

• “More acceptingregions may attractLGBT people to movethere. But it may alsobe the case thatsocial acceptance inthe East and Westmeans that LGBT

people are morewilling to self-identify,because they feelless stigmatized bytheir 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 COMMONALIT IES



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 andactivities

2. Role of community

3. Contribution of spirituality



FOLLOWED CHURCH GUIDANCE

• Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT people andactivities

• 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, whichcan be significant and severe




• Role of community

• Religious community may be more important than LGBTcommunity

• May be intolerant of LGBT seniors




• Positive contributions of spirituality

• Spiritual sustenance of a life of faith

• Sense of purpose



NEWLY OUT

• Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT peopleand activities

• May be painfully aware of homophobia

• Could experience loss of or alienation from acommunity 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


• Sense of exploration — new spiritual frontiers

• New identity and excitement



OUT FOR MANY YEARS

• Impact of religious attitudes against LGBT peopleand activities

• Potential alienation from communities of faith

• Higher levels of agnostic/atheist• May be reluctant to seek services from faith-

based social service programs

• May fear homophobia

• Potential separation from partners/friends — realisticfear

• 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


• 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

spirituality and lgbt seniors

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