This pioneering effort is the first attempt to reach a nationwide representation of lesbian elders in order to understand this deeply hidden segment of our population. The women in Lesbians Over 60 Speak for Themselves candidly describe their necessarily secret lives in a hostile society--how they feel about being "different," how they cope with the homophobia that surrounds them, their most pressing problems, how aging has affected them, as well as the most intriguing topic: their sexual behavior--as it was in their youth and as it is now. This powerful book provides fascinating demographics about this previously neglected group of women and thoroughly explores their intimate thoughts and feelings about aging and lesbianism.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging brings together cutting-edge research, practical information, and innovative thinking regarding the characteristics and processes of aging among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Written by experts in the field, the book covers a range of subjects and provides a comprehensive knowledge base for practitioners, students, and researchers. Contributors address topics such as sexuality, relationships, legal issues, retirement planning, physical and mental health, substance abuse, community needs, gay and lesbian grandparents, and a model agency dedicated to delivering services to the senior LGBT population. Their writing takes a gay-affirmative approach that focuses on resilience, coping, and successful adaptation to aging and is sensitive to the importance of historical oppression in the lives of older members of sexual minorities. The authors also pay close attention to ethnic and cultural issues and identify where further research is needed. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging is a groundbreaking collection of some of the most significant voices in this area of research today. Gerontologists and those who serve the LGBT community are in great need of the information contained in this singular and definitive resource.

This is the final volume of nine in a series on Gay and Lesbian studies. Originally published in 1993, Lesbian Sources is a cross-referenced bibliography of articles written by and/or about lesbians and published in nationally- or internationally-distributed periodicals between 1970 and 1990.

The year 2003 marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark "declassification" of homosexuality as a disease by the American Psychiatric Association--a watershed in the lives of gays and lesbians in the United States. For the first time in history, a generation of self-identified lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals are approaching retirement. This volume brings to the forefront important issues concerning the health, mental health, and concomitant special social service needs of this population and emphasizes the need for more research on aging sexual minorities. Based on empirical and qualitative research methods, chapters focus on the myriad issues of aging for lesbians and gay men including: Social and Cultural Considerations about HIV Among Midlife and Older Gay Men Psychological Well-Being in Midlife Older Gay Men Well-Being Among Middle-Aged and Older Single Gay Men Lesbian Friendships at and Beyond Midlife Contributors include Judith Barker, Jacqueline Weinstock, Bertram Cohler, and Doug Kimmel, among others.

Focusing on the pragmatic aspects of social work with gay and lesbian persons, this book offers a knowledge base of practice that will better prepare students and practitioners for working more competently and effectively with lesbians and gay men. Written by scholars and practitioners in the social work profession, Foundations of Social Work Practice with Lesbian and Gay Persons teaches you how to develop practice approaches that are sensitive to issues of sexual orientation as well as how to work with this population in the contexts of practice with individuals, couples, families, groups, communities, and organizations. The book’s sensible strategies and case studies provide you with critical information that will help you deal with homophobia and heterocentrism and enact a professional commitment to pursuing economic and social equality for diverse and at-risk client populations. A foundation-level text on social work practice with gays and lesbians, this book is designed to provide social work students, academics, and practitioners with an understanding of the values and ethics fundamental to practice with this group of clients. Foundations of Social Work Practice with Lesbian and Gay Persons summarizes the variety of issues, dynamics, and techniques required to work effectively with gay and lesbian clients who are at different points in their development and life cycles. To further help you in your practice, it also discusses: providing skilled professional assistance to gay victims of hate crimes how homophobia can prevent lesbians and gay men from receiving adequate services the obstacles social workers sometimes face when trying to integrate the core set of professional values and ethical principles into their practice practitioner self-disclosure regarding sexual identity developmental milestones for lesbian and gay persons alcohol and substance abuse among lesbians family therapy concepts of fusion and enmeshment same gender socialization assessing issues of sexual expression Counselors, social workers, and students and academics in gay and lesbian studies will find that Foundations of Social Work Practice with Lesbian and Gay Persons greatly expands the social work knowledge base to disrupt the impact of institutional, individualized, and internal homophobia on social workers, their clients, and the institutions in which social workers practice. Its flexible and creative treatment approaches to therapy with sexual minorities are sure to help you sensitize your therapeutic techniques and improve the quality of care you deliver.

This unique book sheds new light on the most invisible members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Hidden from view by a combination of prevailing cultural assumptions and their own unwillingness to be seen, older lesbians have been consistently under-represented in both popular culture and research. This ground-breaking study, based on an unprecedentedly large research sample of nearly four hundred lesbian-identified women between the ages of 60 and 90, offers a fascinating insight into the lives of older lesbians in the UK. Drawing on data from a comprehensive questionnaire survey and illustrated with vivid personal testimonies, it explores both the diversity and the distinct collective identity of the older lesbian community, arguing that understanding their past experience is crucial to providing for their needs in the future. It is essential reading for scholars in the fields of women’s studies and genders and sexualities, and will also appeal to sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, social and cultural historians, and experts in ageing, gerontology, nursing and social work.

Recording issues and obstacles as well as groundbreaking victories in the recognition of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) rights in politics and policy, this landmark handbook introduces core considerations necessary for prompting governmental initiatives and social structures to better serve the GLBT population. Its impressive range of research enlightens all corners of GLBT public administrative theory and practice, including state, national, and international policy; educational, health, and criminal justice administration; and specialized community issues. Beginning with a foreword by U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the handbook's broad reach covers the most recent advances in GLBT politics and policy in the U.S. political party support of gay rights in the legislative and executive branches the influence citizens have in shaping gay rights at the state level legislation and challenges specific to transgender and bisexual rights GLBT youth issues in light of the current mainstream cultural climate the disparity between developed and developing nations in tolerance and protection of gay rights health and healthcare matters impacting the GLBT community GLBT concerns in elementary and secondary schools, ranging from employment and curriculum to harassment and support systems higher-education struggles, as well as the prospects for greater societal change stemming from campus progress hate crimes, including a focused analysis of law enforcement handling of GLBT homicides other GLBT-germane aspects of the criminal justice system Collecting the diverse perspectives of top-tier administrators, educators, researchers, political writers, activists, social workers, and other professionals, this resource is key reading for public administrators, public planners, public policy specialists, and undergraduate and graduate students in these and similar disciplines.