Where's My Community? 2

The Emergence of Gay Retirement Homes

"I think it's taking off in a big way..........not only because people are beginning to see the need, especially for seniors, but because the baby-boomer generation is so large and ageing". 

-----Gayle Gates, Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing, Los Angeles, "The growth of gay retirement homes", by Aidan Lewis, BBC News 12 March 2014

When talking about the elderly, str8 or gay, these are the issues that arise:

1.   The Baby Boomers - a huge demographic in the West and globally, roughly those born between 1945 and 1960. These are the ones who are now ageing en masse and potentially, at least in the West, stand to bring down the entire social security system - which is itself a Ponzi scheme and has been broke for years.

2.   Affluence and Affordability - Some Baby Boomers are extremely well off, some financially comfortable, or living off an inheritance, some have paid off their home mortgages, have a cottage by the lake, nicely fitting dentures and a golf club membership......

We also suspect there are large chunks who saw their wealth wiped out from 2008 or at best, only made a partial recovery, plus those with "employment challenges". Y'all know what that means (Laid off or sacked; Gone from full time to part time; taken pay cuts; taken more than one job; working low paid menial customer service jobs in fast food outlets).

Gay pensioners have a particular need for affordable housing because they can be cut out from inheritances, be cut off from their married siblings, or as single people, unable to claim the usual spousal benefits.

3.   Increasing the Retirement Age - We'd been predicting it for years in the white countries, given that their welfare programs are broke (perhaps with the exception of Scandinavian countries). It's already kicked in.

Our view on this is almost simplistic: if the bugger can work and wants to and is productive and is not a fuckin' trouble maker, then keep him on the payroll.  We like the idea of hiring elderly peeps.  There's intellectual capital, experience, mentorship and the fact that they've been around the block a few times. The better ones have pretty good self-esteem.  While they may not be hip and "street wise", they're "Life-Wise" - and that counts for a lot in our (politically incorrect) book.

4.   Health Problems With Age - Enough said.  With fags steeped in "the lifestyle" they can be chronic and serious.

5.   Shoved Back In The Closet...? -  In Part 1 we described how demeaning Gay Ageism is within "the community".  For the elderly gay person, that is insulting enough.

But when it comes to finding affordable housing or the usual retirement homes, they find themselves forced to live with a whole segment of people who were the ones that discriminated most against them when they were growing up.  Small wonder the single elderly gay person is obliged to shut up about his past and his sexuality, just to have a roof over their heads.  It's pathetic.

Where Are The Gay Retirement Homes?

USA

1. Fountaingrove Lodge - high end GLBT home in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA;
2. Triangle Square, Hollywood, California, USA;
3. Spirit On Lake - Minneapolis, USA
4. John C. Anderson Apartments, Philadelphia, USA;
5. More are due to open in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago between 2014 and 2015;

Europe

1. Regnbagen (Rainbow Apartments), Stockholm, Sweden;
2. 24 flats in Berlin, run by the Gay Counselling Centre. 60% of places reserved for gay men;
3. 40 - 50 flats near Madrid, Spain, due to open late 2014.  Check with the "26 December Foundation" for details;
4. Le Village - Canal du Midi, Salleles d'Aude, Languedoc Region, Southern France;

Asia...??  Hello...?? Anybody...??

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