LGBT Carers Group newsletter, April 2004

Lisa Cooper recently attended a national conference organised by Scarborough and Ryedale Gay Community Network - 'Gay and grey...With dignity'. The event brought together delegates with an interest in the provision of health and social care services to older lesbian and gay people. It was an extremely informative event and helped to confirm the level of need and interest both within and outside the lesbian and gay communities.

Speakers and contributors at the conference revealed that many lesbian and gay people distrust mainstream health and social care providers. Care issues raise anxieties for all of us. However, the lives of many lesbian and gay people are turned upside down when they enter the public domain of care plans, reviews and case conferences. For many, what was a discreet existence, avoiding exposure to ignorance and homophobia, is suddenly confronted by a new environment. Can we be sure that our lives - our identities - will be respected?

As well as the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops, we listened to inspiring personal experiences and heard about research recently undertaken by Brian Heaphy, senior lecturer in sociology at Nottingham Trent university, on 'The social implications of non heterosexual ageing'. For Alan Collins, organiser of the conference and co-ordinator of Scarborough and Ryedale Gay Community Network: 'The day was a great success. Common themes coming from the workshops centred around the need to train professionals never to assume that the service user or carer is heterosexual and the need for clearly recognised 'gay friendly' services.'