Project Duration
March 2013 - February 2015
Funder
Economic and Social Research Council
Project Staff
- Dr Andrew King 1
- Dr Kathryn Almack 2
- Dr Yiu Tung Suen 3
- Sue Westwood 1
Staff Institutions
- University of Surrey
- The University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford/Chinese University of Hong Kong
Aims
The aim of this seminar series was to examine major gaps in current knowledge and research concerning older (50 years or over) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people.
These gaps, which have been identified by a thorough review of the existing literature and through feedback from academics, service providers, policy makers and older LGBT people are in six key areas: older bisexual people's lives; older trans people's experiences; race, ethnicity and religion in older LGBT people's lives; economics, resources and social networks; intergenerational issues; and health and social care.
Methods
The project involved a series of six themed seminars followed by a final conference, aimed at exploring gaps in knowledge and research about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Ageing, and identifying ways to address those gaps.
The project has successfully brought together academics, policy-makers, service providers, third-sector organisations, LGBT activists and advocacy groups and older LGBT people themselves.
Each seminar involved a combination of invited speakers and facilitated work groups.
Stage of Development
Seminars:
We have now held six seminars and a final conference. Brief details below and further information available on the webpage listed on the top right of this page.
Older Bisexual Lives - Current Initiatives and Future Directions
Speakers: Rebecca Jones, Open University and Sue George, bi-activist and author
The University of Nottingham
24 April 2013
Seminar flyer (PDF)
Presentations and dissemination from Seminar One
Intergenerational Issues
Speakers: Antony Smith, AgeUK and Catherine McMamara, University of London, and co-founder and director of Gendered Intelligence
University of Oxford
10 September 2013
Further information (Fully booked but waiting list available).
Older LGBT People – Intersections of Ethnicity, Culture and Religion
Speakers: Dr Roshan das Nair, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Nottingham University Hospitals Trust & Honorary Associate Professor, University of Nottingham with Dr Joanne Mc Carthy, Clinical Psychologist, University College London Hospitals and Andrew Yip, University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham
23 January 2014
Further details TBC
Counting the Costs? Resources, Austerity and Older LGBT People
Speakers: Noah Uhrig, Institute for social and Economic Research and Martin Mitchell, NatCen Social Research
The University of Surrey
29 April 2014
Trans Ageing
Speakers: Jane McQueen, Press For Change; Louis Bailey, Hull York Medical School and Ruth Rose
St Thomas Centre, Manchester
10 September 2014
New Directions on Health, Housing and Social Care
Speakers: Kathryn Almack, University of Nottingham and Paul Willis, University of Swansea
The University of Surrey
26 November 2014
Final Conference
Keynote speakers: Baroness Liz Barker and Peter Tatchell
The Abbey Centre, Westminster, London
28 January 2015
Each seminar involves a combination of invited speakers and facilitated work groups.
Outcomes
Westwood, S., King, A., Almack, K., Suen, Y. T. and Bailey, L. (2015) Good Practice in Health and Social Care Provision for Older LGBT people, in J. Fish. and K. Karban, (eds.), Social Work and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Health Inequalities: International Perspectives. Bristol: Policy Press.
We are currently working on an edited book reporting on the seminar series – forthcoming 2016. For more information please see: www.surrey.ac.uk/sociology/research/researchcentres/crag/seminar_series/