Stigma and discrimination continue to be a problem in society, especially when it comes to issues of same-sex marriages. Same sex marriages, even if they are acceptable by law have not been fully embraced by the society. The situation is made worse when it comes to handling older adults who fall under the category of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). These older adults have for the longest time experienced disparities on matters of health, more especially in the areas of access to health care, mental health, HIV/AIDS as well as chronic physical conditions. There is a wide range of physical health disparities in existence, and that discriminate these older adults and they have remained unaddressed for a very long time now. If this problem remains ignored, then there are a good number of older Americans who remain disadvantaged and neglected because of their sexual identities. The result of the discrimination experienced is seen, by the way, the LGBT older adults feel reluctant to access health services because they know all too well what awaits them. Medical service providers normally give them a weird look and questionable services, and that amounts to discrimination.
Many LGBT older adults avoid mainstream aging services, and that has aided in the heightening of their problems in their later years. There is a lot of social negativity from the society, and that has cropped into mainstream health care service providers. The government and society ought to have addressed this issue, but there are a lot of challenges that cannot be easily wished away. First of all, it is the mindset of the wider society that is contributing to all these. Healthcare service providers are human beings who are part of the wider society that still throws stones and point accusing fingers at people who do things that are considered out of the ordinary (Burbank 2006). They cannot be blamed for it from the lens of society but again they can be blamed because as service providers, they ought to administer their help to anyone regardless of their social lives. Society has created a not so friendly environment for the elderly LGBT community and, therefore, can take all the blame for all the biases with which they are treated in the healthcare sector.
Recent research and studies indicate that the elderly LGBT persons would rather not disclose their sexual orientation to their aging providers. But this does not last too long because the truth always has a way of coming out. There have been reported instances of mistreatment in the case of a few who had let the staff know about their sexual identities. What is more, is the fact that whenever a retired LGBT employee register their partner for health insurance, the government taxes them because the federal law treats their insurance as taxable income (lgbtmap.org 2010). The retired LGBT will then have to pay income tax for that benefit when heterosexual couples enjoy untaxed services of the same nature. The discrimination exhibited in this case starts from the law that is supposed to protect all persons regardless of their sexual orientation. It is not surprising that the common citizen can also exhibit such discrimination mannerisms towards the LGBT elderly population. It, therefore, happens that the problem has not been solved because the federal law and the government have not yet set the pace for any possible change. If the discrimination starts with the government, the citizens can feel justified to discriminate against them.
As people mature, they undergo trait transformation, and it is not surprising that things that never bothered them in their earlier years start making them anxious and may end up stressing them. Most elderly persons have experience health issues as they age and cannot compare to their younger years when they were all healthy and bubbly. When society makes life difficult for them, that adds up to more stress that can easily kill them or even cause them lifelong health complications. Until society learns that, it is going to be very difficult handling them and helping them live to enjoy their sunset years. The same is required for the elderly LGBT community in the United States and from around the world. It takes a helping hand from not only the government, but also from the rest of the society to treat them like normal human beings and accord them the help that they deserve. Branding them, calling them names and discriminating them will worsen their situations, and that will end up affecting them in the long run. Life is a matter of choice and matters of morality are not cast in stone, what is morally acceptable in one part of the world may be an abomination in another (Witten & Eyler 2006). It, therefore, takes a lot of thoughtfulness and consideration, to accommodate everyone for who they are.
In order to deal with these problems that are faced by the LGBT elderly, it is imperative first to begin with the government offering policy solutions to the already existing problems that are facing them. For starters, the government should remove all forms of taxation that affects retired same sex couples. Some states have made same-sex marriages legal but under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal government still considers these marriages illegal. Congress should then go ahead and repeal the DOMA. That move will be aimed at established laws that will cushion all marriages regardless of gender. But again, if Congress does not repeal the Act, there is an option that can be offered at the federal level. There should be an amendment to the Employee Retirement Income security Act that will be aimed at ending taxation of all benefits that are provided to the same-sex couples. Same-sex and heterosexual couples should be treated equally because all of them start-up families of their choices, and if the taxation continues it means that not all Americans are treated equally. Equality begins with having provisions in the federal law that cushion all persons irrespective of their social lives. It is for sure a matter of choice, and they are supported by some laws, but why is it hard for the same law to be amended to ensure that the LGBT are protected.
It is a matter of time until society transforms and starts viewing the LGBT community as an equal group of persons who have chosen to be who they are and are protected by law. Through a diachronic vision lens, it is imperative to take note of the fact that it has taken time for society to accept and acknowledge the presence of this group. It is not so long ago when they were not acceptable to mainstream society. In fact, there are some parts of the world that cannot stand them let alone hear about them. But perhaps the reason the world is still grappling with same-sex marriages is because of religious beliefs and teachings that many people believe and subscribe to. Until everyone is willing to look at same-sex marriages as a matter of choice and the will, and then same-sex couples can be allowed to go about life as they please. God gave humanity the freedom to choose between right and wrong, and the LGBT community is also given that choice to choose between heterosexual or same-sex marriages. When these couples are at their advanced stages of life, they just like any other person should be looked at with objectivity and that they should not be neglected because of the life they chose for themselves. It is a matter of embracing them, something that mainstream society and the healthcare caregivers are not ready to accept.
Indeed, there are many disparities in the provision of healthcare to all Americans, and it is the duty of the state and country to ensure that healthcare workers are trained on how to deal with elderly people who fall in the category of LGBT. Healthcare and caregivers should be having plans that cover all people and especially older LGBT. Something can be done about making government understand that they need Medicare and Medicaid, or insurance cover that takes care of their needs just like other Americans (Niles- Yokum & Wagner 2011). Pervasive discrimination is uncalled for, and it is the mandate of the government to protect all its citizens as long as they are not breaking any laws. If only they could be treated like the rest of the American citizens, then the country will be moving closer to fully respecting the rights of all citizens irrespective of their moral standing in the eyes of religious doctrines. The constitution states categorically that it will respect the rights of all citizens, and so should it respect the LGBT community and give them equal treatment just like the rest of Americans when it comes to provision of medical care.
References
lgbtmap.org. LGBT Older Adults and Health Disparities. MAP. Web. September 2010. Retrieved on 18th December 2014. http://www.lgbtmap.org/file/lgbt-older-adults and-health-disparities.pdf
Witten, T. M. & Eyler, A. E. (2006).Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging: Challenges in Research, Practice & Policy. Baltimore: JHU Press.
Burbank, P. M. (2006).Vulnerable Older Adults: Health Care Needs and Interventions. New York: Springer.
Niles- Yokum, K. & Wagner, D. (2011).The Aging Networks: A Guide to Programs and Services. 7/e. New York: Springer
