They Forget It Is A Spectrum.

Age is a spectrum... it is not just the young who need help but also at the other end of the age spectrum that also need help, but a different type of help.

 'People forget we exist': Why older LGBTQ+ people fear losing identity

BBC News

Josh Parry

Sept. 19, 2026

As a 75-year-old lesbian, Mindy Meleyal has lived through every major milestone in the modern LGBT rights movement, from the start of decriminalisation in 1967 to the first same-sex marriages in 2014.

But now she says this important part of her identity is frequently overlooked due to her age.

She's part of England's older LGBTQ+ community, which a new report suggests often experiences poorer health, more limited finances and greater social isolation than the wider older population.

The report, from the Centre for Ageing Better, says without specialist support, this growing demographic could be forced "back into the closet" when accessing care, warning they may even delay getting the care they need because of concerns about homophobia.

What I have found is that my circle of friends is getting smaller and smaller. A friend passed away last week. She was a friend who I used to go out to lunch once a month with our senior trans group.

"It's very common for people to hide things if they have a carer visiting their home, for example hiding their wedding photos or taking down a trans flag," he says.

I used to call it "Sanitizing" when my parents came over, but in a Long Term Care facility we have to hide.

The Kindred House scheme is what's known as extra-care housing, which means residents live independently, but there is a 24/7 care team available for those who need extra help, and all staff will receive specialist training around LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Porter says he hopes the scheme will "trigger some conversations" about how to best support older LGBTQ+ people in the challenges they face.

It is not the staff! They were beautiful in helping us, but... It is the residents that is the problem. Shunning. I have heard from trans people that no one sits at their table or get up and leave when they sit down at a table,

I believe we need to start off simply... just a drop in centers at Pride centers during the daylight hours. Board games, movies, book groups, just stuff to get us out of our residencies and in and around others LGBTQ+ people. Even intergenerational drop-in centers should be tried. The goal is to get the Stonewall Generation out of their homes and with others.