Older Gays Have Higher Risk of Loneliness

[William769]

A recent study by U.K. gay rights group Stonewall indicates that aging gay men and women have a greater risk of loneliness than do heterosexuals, London's Observerreports.

The YouGov survey commissioned by Stonewall questioned 1,050 heterosexual and 1,036 lesbian, gay, and bisexual people over the age of 55, and found that LGB people are more likely to be single and see their families less frequently than straights. While a little over a quarter of older gay or bisexual men and half of lesbian or bisexual women have children, nearly nine out of 10 heterosexual people have children.

Previous studies have indicated that loneliness in old age is associated with depression and poor health.

"This pioneering research confirms what we already knew intuitively, that there are hundreds of thousands of lesbian and gay people growing older without the same family and support structures that many straight people enjoy," said Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall. "Quite often, that's because their own families have disowned them just because of the way they were born."

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/13/Older_Gays_Have_Higher_Risk_of_Loneliness/

[qb]

1. A sad statistic. It's clear we need to continue the emphasis on LGBT Family sticking together

and supporting one another.

[Scottybeamer70]

2. Well, let's see.........

I will be 72 tomorrow ( 15th). I have NO family left.
I'm pretty much alone on the planet. I'd say their
study is pretty much true, at least from my standpoint.

[Amimnoch]

4. Where do you live Scotty?

If you don't mind my asking. No one should have to be lonely :( I feel for you my friend.

[closeupready]

3. This is where being closeted leads. When

you refuse to engage with others beyond orgasm, relationships rarely form. And there you are.