Beyond Age Discrimination Video Program

Transcript of GLBT Pride Interviews

Kinchlow: We're going to continue our discussion of the rights of older Minnesotans by focusing on seniors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. But before we meet our panel, let's find out what those in the GLBT community have to say about their concerns and their fears, their experiences in dealing with services that older Minnesotans are likely to increasingly require. We went to the Twin Cities GLBT Pride Festival held last July in Loring Park in Minneapolis, and we asked those who wanted to talk with us some questions.

Question: Will aging members of the GLBT community face discrimination when entering assisted living facilities?

Answer: I think just in America it does not matter if you're gay, lesbian, or whatever. You're going to face discrimination of age, race. It's just America. I mean, it's just what it is.

Answer: I would hope not, but it seems that, like, elderly people already get discrimination, so I think that being GLBT might add to it, which really sucks. But I hope it's not the case.

Answer: I think it's possible.

Answer: I think it mostly depends on maybe where the assisted living facility is. If it's in more of a conservative community, then yeah, it'd be more likely, I would say, but if it's in a more liberal community, then probably not.

Answer: Since I'm getting up there in age, I worry about that myself. I think it'd be nice if somebody would come out with a gay —all gay nursing home.

Question: Will partners of members of the GLBT community face discrimination when visiting a nursing home or assisted living facility?

Answer: I think so.

Answer: Yeah. I mean, if they have trouble visiting them in the hospital, then...

Answer: Absolutely.

Answer: There wouldn't be anything differentiating why they wouldn't—why they wouldn't have trouble visiting them in an assisted living facility.

Answer: I think that that's very likely.

Answer: Again, I'd like to hope not, and most human beings who are thoughtful and so on wouldn't discriminate against them. But I think there are some old feelings and old beliefs out there.

Answer: I would hope that they wouldn't. I currently work in a nursing home, and we don't discriminate on anything, so I don't know why they would.

Question: Will a partner face discrimination when making life support decisions?

Answer: Definitely, because it's not recognized as a blood relative.

Answer: Only if you have legal backup.

Answer: I don't know what the common laws are here in Minnesota or in the United States, but I think that if I was to have a partner to make that decision for me, I don't think that wishes will be—or that his decision will be respected.

Answer: I think it depends on the family too.

Question: Will an aging member of the GLBT community face discrimination in accessing social services?

Answer: No, I think the world is coming around that.

Answer: Yes.

Answer: Just through stories, yes, but not through personal experience.

Answer: I think aging is probably not much fun on its own, and I imagine and having to deal with the discrimination and the issues that gay and lesbian folks can sometimes—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender folks can sometimes face in society probably is even less fun. So I would just hope people try to think of that next time they see older folks or see an older couple and try to maybe help them out and provide as much support and understanding as they can.

Continue with Part Two: GLBT Issues

• Part 2: GLBT Issues
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