Gay men over 65

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Questions

• What are the psychosocial needs and vulnerabilities of older gay and bisexual men?

Key take-home messages

• Health outcomes related to the intersectionality of aging and sexual minority status is an emerging area of research (1, 2).
• It is important to consider the context of lived experiences among older gay men (3, 4), as their experience of aging may be different from their heterosexual counterparts (3).
• The construct of internalized gay ageism appears to be a form of sexual minority stress that may possess negative impacts on the psychological well-being of older gay men (5).
• Generally, existence part of the same-sex attracted community or being active in gay-affirmative spaces was identified as being beneficial and may potentially alter health outcomes (3, 4, 6).
• Support groups specifically targeting older gay men living with HIV may diminish perceived stigma and possess a positive impact on quality of life (7).

The issue and why it’s important

Within the general population of ageing adults, sexual minorities are an often-hidden group (8). In in Canada, 4% of individuals older than the age of 15 identified as members of the LGBTQ2+ community (lesbian, gay, bis

Source: Drew Hays/Unsplash

The gay identity is unforgiving of aging. It highly prizes sexual potency, perfect bodies, and youth. This is for a good reason; any signs of vulnerability and imperfection feel dangerous in a heteronormative world where there is a tall likelihood to be rejected and criticised.

Many homosexual men will have endured homophobic bullying at university whilst teachers turned a blind eye; having parents not understanding or accepting their sexual orientation; or a difficult and painful coming out process. In the here and now, there is still much homophobia in our society: being looked at in an intimidating or shaming way when holding their same-sex partner’s hand in the streets; hearing homophobic people making complaints when gay characters appear on television; being asked inappropriate sexual questions at a party that would never be asked to a heterosexual person; having to carefully select a holiday destination that is gay-friendly. All of these things, and more, are experiences heterosexual people never possess to endure, it is not even in the periphery of their minds.

This is what we summon "minority stress," the chronic stress that occurs every day for being

Gay Men Continue to Be Sexually Active After 70

A new study from Amazing Britain finds that the number of sexual partners British adults have will change over the course of their lives, with gay and bisexual men over 70 still enjoying active sex lives as they age.

According to the study &#; funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Explore and published in the Plos One medical journal &#; gay and bisexual men over 70 were more likely than their vertical peers of the identical age to have had more than one sexual partner recently.

Those men were likely to continue having sex with multiple partners, while straight men and women became less sexually active.

Women who have sex with women, and other relationship types, were discounted due to small sample sizes.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of East Anglia, King&#;s College London, and University College London surveyed more than 5, adults during the mpox outbreak, looking at how sexual action changes with age, in order to develop scientific models for sexually transmitted infections, reports Sky News. 

Researchers surveyed 5, British adults from September to October &#; including 3, from th

Iwouldhave started writing this piece earlier, but the tendonitis in my right foot sent me to the doctor scrambling for relief. Last Christmas a trainer at my gym (whose father is younger than I am) asked what my goals were and I said “to drop five pounds by my birthday, in April.” I achieved the goal in part because I destroyed my shoulder right after our session and couldn’t work out — much of the weight was muscle mass. I can’t jog or jump rope or do planks without a team of advisers on the scene.

“My body, that instrument that, once upon a second, introduced itself before I did, is falling apart. It’s a thing, deteriorate. Happens to anyone whose name is not Cher.”

My body, that instrument that, once upon a day, introduced itself before I did, is falling apart. Slowly, yes, but it’s happening. It’s a thing, decay. Happens to anyone whose name is not Cher.

I’ve heard a lot lately from men older than my 53 years, gently chiding me for writing about a sexy life in the sixth decade. Most of the comments have had the tone of “Just wait,” and, while I’ve not addressed them individually, I hear the words. Now that the universe has decided gay men are going to grow senior — T-cel

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