Abstract
In this chapter, we define key terms used throughout the volume and describe current definitions of elder abuse and of gender and sexual minorities (GSM). After offering a brief sociohistorical background to our discussion of elder abuse in the GSM population, we describe the origins of The Indigo Project, the study from which the narratives offered in this volume are drawn, and its emergence from an earlier study, Raising Awareness of Elder Abuse in the LGBT Community. We conclude with an overview of the volume.
Systemic discrimination against LGBTQ communities has had a lasting impact on GSM seniors, as they have faced a lifetime of systemic discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identities. Consequently, many LGBTQ seniors live, or have lived, in secrecy, hiding their identities and intimate relationships. This discrimination, particularly within the healthcare system, has led many LGBTQ seniors to lack trust in mainstream health care providers and to be hesitant to disclose unless specifically asked.
Aging Out: QMUNITY Report, 2014, p. 2.
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Robson, C., Marchbank, J., Gutman, G., Prentice, M. (2023). Introduction. In: Elder Abuse in the LGBTQ2SA+ Community. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 37. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33317-0_1
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