Sometimes you might be attracted to someone older or younger than you. This is normal and can be a part of your sexuality. But, you should know that it is not a good idea to date women older or younger than you.
Research suggests that older lesbian and gay people are more comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation to health and aged care service providers if they feel community connectedness (Dunkle, 2018). This knowledge may assist services to improve engagement and cultural safety for LGBTI older adults.
Age is just a number
Some older lesbians are attracted to women who are much younger than them. While this is not a common occurrence in the LGBT community, it does occur and can be very attractive. Often, the age difference is a matter of preference and can be a non-issue in a relationship.
Many older lesbians have lived their entire lives in the closet and have been socially conditioned to not reveal their sexual orientation until later in life. They may also have experienced limited opportunities to age normally due to restrictions on same-sex marriage and family-building. These heretofore invisible populations are worth studying and have unique needs as they grow older.
Research guided by a life-course perspective is important to understanding the complexities of older LGB adults. This framework highlights the interplay between lives and historical times, as well as the nature and consequences of linked and interdependent lives. Currently, most of the existing research on older LGBT people is focused on gender differences and heteronormativity.
Love is love
Love is a complex concept with many different definitions. Some people say it is a physiological drive, similar to hunger, thirst, sleep, and the sex drive. Others say that love is a primary emotion. Some researchers even believe that it is a mix of primary emotions.
While love is important, it is not enough to make a relationship work. You need to also share interests, values, and ambitions with your partner. In addition, you must prioritize spending time together. This will help you to avoid the problems that often arise in long-term relationships.
The phrase “love is love” is used by some to promote and celebrate the LGBT experience. However, biblically speaking, it is a dangerous and misguided proposition. To claim that “love is love” is to justify and affirm what God condemns – and it is as wrong as calling darkness light or evil good. This is what Isaiah called “woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
Age is not a factor
While the older LGBT population is growing, there is a dearth of research on lesbian elders. The research that does exist often combines LGBT adults into one group, making it difficult to discern differences among subgroups. In addition, the majority of available studies focus on young/middle adulthood.
In this study, researchers conducted four focus groups of lesbians ages 64-71 in Boston and the Outer Cape to explore their needs, concerns, and preferences for where and how they will live as they age. Participants were recruited through public distribution of flyers and by e-mail. Individuals in a relationship were not allowed to attend the focus groups together.
The respondents were overwhelmingly concerned about discrimination in the context of housing and services for the elderly. They also voiced a strong desire to have access to quality healthcare providers who are culturally competent and affirmative of their sexual orientation. They were especially concerned about discrimination by staff in healthcare facilities and medical practices.
Sexuality is a choice
Sexuality is a complex issue that affects all people in some way. It includes a person’s sexual orientation and whether they are attracted to opposite sex (heterosexual) or same sex (homosexual), as well as their sexual fantasies, attitudes, and values. It also encompasses a person’s gender identity, whether they are male or female.
Some people find out their sexuality at a young age and are comfortable with it from the start, while others take longer to work it out. Regardless of the time it takes to come to terms with your sexuality, there is nothing wrong with it.
As younger cohorts of sexual minority youth experience milestone experiences at progressively younger ages, it is important to study the identity development trajectories of these groups. This information can help health professions develop more effective programs for this vulnerable population. It can also provide insight into how different societal, family, and sexual environment factors influence the sexual identities of these youth.
