Safe space for LGBT people in older people’s services Petra Davis, Housing Policy Officer Brighton & Hove City Council (01273)

The institutional case for monitoring Increased statutory obligations around sexual and gender identitiesIncreased statutory obligations around sexual and gender identities Tighter restrictions on service commissioningTighter restrictions on service commissioning Demonstrably equal services for the whole communityDemonstrably equal services for the whole community Local and national research show LGBT exclusion from servicesLocal and national research show LGBT exclusion from services Supporting People StrategySupporting People Strategy LGBT people’s Housing StrategyLGBT people’s Housing Strategy

The ethical case for monitoring Service user experienceService user experience Levels of LGBT populationLevels of LGBT population To help address experiences of discriminationTo help address experiences of discrimination

Barriers to coming out Lifetime’s experience of institutional discrimination Lifetime’s experience of institutional discrimination Fears about older people’s services Fears about older people’s services Fears about confidentiality Fears about confidentiality May be first contact with services May be first contact with services May be being forced to move away from safe area May be being forced to move away from safe area Current media focus on LGBT issues Current media focus on LGBT issues

Celebrating Age – reactions from older LGBT participants “Is Sheltered Housing open to gay people now?” “I’m not open about who I am, there’s no way. Where I live, they don’t understand…if there’s a story on TV or in the paper, people say awful things and no one says anything to stop them. How can I tell them I’m one of the people they hate so much?”

Celebrating Age – reactions from providers Provider:What's this all about then? Me: It's a stall providing information for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older people, or those who provide for them. Provider:Oh, well we don't have that problem. If not – why not?

What makes a safe space? Visibly out LGBT staff and/or service users Visibly out LGBT staff and/or service users Positive images and information for LGBT people Positive images and information for LGBT people Activities suitable for LGBT people Activities suitable for LGBT people Effectively tackling discrimination from service users or staff Effectively tackling discrimination from service users or staff Training in LGBT awareness Training in LGBT awareness Policy and operational support around LGBT issues Policy and operational support around LGBT issues Clear and well-understood organisational goals around LGBT accessibility Clear and well-understood organisational goals around LGBT accessibility Sharing goals with service users Sharing goals with service users Sharing best practice with other organisations Sharing best practice with other organisations Keeping in touch with LGBT community sector organisations Keeping in touch with LGBT community sector organisations Ask your LGBT service users! Ask your LGBT service users!

Help is available! Gay and grey: lifting the lid on sexuality and ageing – Help and Care Development Ltd, 2006 Gay and grey: lifting the lid on sexuality and ageing – Help and Care Development Ltd, 2006 Housing options for older LGBT people in Scotland – ODS ltd., 2005 Housing options for older LGBT people in Scotland – ODS ltd., 2005 Lesbian, gay and bisexual lives over 50 – Brian Heapley, Andrew Yip, and Debbie Thompson, 2003 Lesbian, gay and bisexual lives over 50 – Brian Heapley, Andrew Yip, and Debbie Thompson, 2003 Opening doors to the needs of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals – Age Concern, 2002 Opening doors to the needs of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals – Age Concern, 2002 Precis #67: housing and support needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland – ODS ltd., 2005 Precis #67: housing and support needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland – ODS ltd., 2005 Shaping futures: LGBT people growing older – CRFR, University of Edinburgh, 2004 Shaping futures: LGBT people growing older – CRFR, University of Edinburgh, 2004 The whole of me – a resource pack – Age Concern, 2006 The whole of me – a resource pack – Age Concern, 2006