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Bisexuality: An Invisible Community Among LGBT Elders

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Handbook of LGBT Elders

Abstract

This chapter discusses issues relevant to bisexual elders, including invisibility, homophobia and biphobia, lack of understanding, and a scarcity of research and resources. Bisexual elders face the same issues as all elders, such as the need for financial planning, health care, assisted living, estate planning, and more, not to mention isolation, feelings of loss, depression, and ageism. Bisexual elders also face the additional issues that lesbian and gay elders must navigate such as invisibility, coming out, and marginalization and discrimination due to homophobia. In addition, bisexual elders also face issues that are either amplified—such as a lack of supportive social networks—or uniquely theirs—such as biphobia and a lack of bi-specific research, support, and services. As a consequence, it is critical for people who offer services to elders to avoid judgment and assumptions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    William E. Burleson

Authors
  1. William E. Burleson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William E. Burleson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Debra A. Harley

  2. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Pamela B. Teaster

Appendices

Learning Exercises

Self-Check Questions

  1. 1.

    What does it means to be a bisexual elder?

  2. 2.

    What are healthcare disparities facing bisexual elders?

  3. 3.

    Discuss discrimination faced by bisexual elders.

  4. 4.

    What are unique service needs for bisexual elders?

  5. 5.

    What are solutions for decreasing isolation of bisexual elders?

Experiential Assignments

  1. 1.

    Go on the Internet and search for a story of the experience of a bisexual elders. Write your impressions of what it is like.

  2. 2.

    Look on the Internet to find about services targeted to bisexual elders.

  3. 3.

    Write down your reactions to the author’s reflections on being a bisexual elder.

Multiple-Choice Questions (10)

  1. 1.

    A bisexual person is?

    1. (a)

      Really gay

    2. (b)

      Really lesbian

    3. (c)

      Conflicted

    4. (d)

      A person who is attracted to more than one gender

  2. 2.

    Challenges that bisexual elders face include

    1. (a)

      Isolation

    2. (b)

      Few target social services

    3. (c)

      Invisibility

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  3. 3.

    The single largest part of the LGBT community is

    1. (a)

      Lesbian

    2. (b)

      Gay

    3. (c)

      Bisexual

    4. (d)

      Transgender

  4. 4.

    What two members of the LGBT community have been strong allies for advocacy?

    1. (a)

      Gays and Lesbians

    2. (b)

      Gays and transgender persons

    3. (c)

      Gays and bisexual persons

    4. (d)

      Bisexual persons and transgender persons

  5. 5.

    Which LGBT groups identify more strongly with ambiguity?

    1. (a)

      Gays

    2. (b)

      Transgender

    3. (c)

      Bisexuals

    4. (d)

      (b) and (c)

    5. (e)

      (a) and (c)

  6. 6.

    Which of the following has the highest reported rates of binge drinking?

    1. (a)

      Gay men

    2. (b)

      Lesbians

    3. (c)

      Transgender persons

    4. (d)

      Bisexuals

  7. 7.

    Which of the below is not a health problem for older bisexual persons?

    1. (a)

      Overweight

    2. (b)

      Underweight

    3. (c)

      High cholesterol

    4. (d)

      Intimate partner violence

  8. 8.

    Bisexual women have rates higher than their heterosexual counterparts of the following:

    1. (a)

      Cancer

    2. (b)

      Underinsurance

    3. (c)

      Difficulty obtaining medical care

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  9. 9.

    What identify issues do bisexuals face?

    1. (a)

      Homophobia

    2. (b)

      Employment discrimination

    3. (c)

      Social ostracism

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  10. 10.

    What one word best describe the community of bisexual elders?

    1. (a)

      Invisible

    2. (b)

      Well-recognized

    3. (c)

      Well organized

    4. (d)

      Protected under the law

Key (for multiple-choice questions)

  • 1-d

  • 2-d

  • 3-c

  • 4-d

  • 5-d

  • 6-b

  • 7-d

  • 8-d

  • 9-b

  • 10-a

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Burleson, W.E. (2016). Bisexuality: An Invisible Community Among LGBT Elders. In: Harley, D., Teaster, P. (eds) Handbook of LGBT Elders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03623-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03623-6_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-03622-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-03623-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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