Here's Why Ageism Takes an Especially Heavy Toll on LGBTQ Older Adults

An elderly man taking his wife's temperature Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

Older LGBTQ adults often experience a mix of ageism and anti-LGBTQ sentiment, including internalized homophobia, transphobia, and ageism.

“That’s bad news in general, but for LGBTQ seniors, it’s especially bad news. They are more likely to have mental and physical health problems. That makes them more sensitive to the many forms of ageism, including what may be the most pernicious: internalized ageism. Like internalized homophobia or transphobia, internalized ageism reinforces stereotypes and erodes self-esteem. Of course, a lifetime of societal discrimination has unfortunately primed many seniors for yet another layer of discrimination.”

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/07/heres-ageism-takes-especially-heavy-toll-lgbtq-s