Gay and Lesbian Elders: History, Law, and Identity Politics in the United StatesThe approximately two million gay and lesbian elders in the United States are an underserved and understudied population. At a time when gay men and lesbians enjoy an unprecedented degree of social acceptance and legal protection, many elders face the daily challenges of aging isolated from family, detached from the larger gay and lesbian community, and ignored by mainstream aging initiatives. Drawing on materials from law, history, and social theory, this book integrates practical proposals for reform with larger issues of sexuality and identity. Beginning with a summary of existing demographic data and offering a historical overview of pre-Stonewall views of homosexuality, author Nancy J. Knauer goes on to address the invisibility of this community. She examines the multiple double binds central to their identity formation, including ageism among gays and lesbians and homophobia among seniors. Further, the book focuses on specific legal concerns such as estate planning, housing, discrimination, and financial insecurity, and how they impact this community uniquely. Integrating theory with practical questions of policy, and advancing a new understanding of the construction of sexuality and identity, this book advocates meaningful new reforms designed to ensure equity and dignity in aging regardless of sexual orientation. |
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Gay and Lesbian Elders: History, Law, and Identity Politics in the United States Nancy J. Knauer No preview available - 2016 |
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30 March accessed advocacy african-american age cohort ageism anti-discrimination protections anti-gay bias Bayer beneficiary benefits Bisexual caregiving census data chosen family chosen family member closet cultural competency D’Augelli and Grossman dadT disabilities discrimination discussed in chapter dOMa domestic partners elder abuse elder same-sex elder-care employee Eskridge fear federal financial insecurity gay and lesbian gay or lesbian gender health-care heteronormative heterosexual homophobia homosexuality hospital income individual’s individuals lesbian aging lesbian community lesbian elders lesbian equality lesbian identity LGbT LGbT elders marriage equality Medicaid Metlife non-gay peers number of gay older gay Online organizations percent pre-stonewall programs relationship recognition reported respondents retirement Robert’s rules of intestate same-sex couples same-sex marriage same-sex partnered households sexual orientation Sharon social security South and Spade spousal stereotype Stonewall surviving same-sex partner surviving spouse today’s gay Transgender transgender elders U.s. census bureau York