Lift every voice: A qualitative exploration of ageism and heterosexism as experienced by older African American lesbian women and gay men when addressing social services needs

This phenomenological study explored the issues of aging and heterosexism of older African American lesbian women and gay men through their lived experiences. Mechanisms used by older African American lesbian women and gay men for dealing with perceived social discrimination and alienation within their families, the larger African American community, and organized religion were also examined. A qualitative design was used to collect data from a purposive, snowball sample of 15 self-identified lesbian women and gay men 57-72 years old, through in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Five major themes were identified: (a) sense of alienation in the African American community, (b) perceived discrimination and alienation from organized religion because of sexual orientation, (c) isolation, (d) coping strategies, and (e) fear of financial and physical dependence. The implication of the findings suggests important differences of navigating through society and participating in social programs as aging people of color and as sexual minorities. The permeation of institutional levels of racism, classism, and heterosexism and strategies to dismantle them, including culturally competent curriculum that specifically addresses the needs of aging LGBT elders, including the nuances within the aging African American lesbian women and gay men, is discussed. The results of the study closed gaps in the body of empirical research and produced recommendations to eliminate potential barriers to successful aging for this cohort.