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Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults: Snapshot Report

The Bottom Line

This snapshot summary of Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults summarizes the full report and its recommendations in capsule form. Social stigma and unequal laws make it harder for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) elders to achieve three key elements of successful aging: financial security, good health and healthcare, and social support and community engagement. The snapshot report succinctly summarizes the unique challenges and inequities facing LGBT elders and offers high-level recommendations for eliminating — or at least reducing — inequities and improving the lives, and life chances, of LGBT older Americans.

Recommended citation:
Movement Advancement Project and SAGE. March 2010. Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults. https://www.lgbtmap.org/improving-the-lives-of-lgbt-older-adults (date of access).

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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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