Bulletin

Issue: April 2006

People

Gay health resilience increases with age

The most significant health and well-being problems of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people in Australia improve as they get older. This is one of the findings of Private Lives, a study conducted by La Trobe University's Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS).

Initiated by the Victorian Department of Human Services funded Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, a consortium run by ARCSHS, Women's Health Victoria and the Victorian AIDS Council, the study was the largest survey ever conducted with the GLBTI population. Nearly 5500 people between the ages of 16 and 92 participated.

The study found high rates of depression amongst GLBTI people compared with heterosexual people, and high levels of suicidal thoughts. It also found that nearly 70 per cent of GLBTI people regularly modify their behaviour due to their fear of prejudice and discrimination.

Up to 90 per cent of people had avoided showing affection in public and over half had modified their activities at work despite the fact that discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexuality or gender is illegal.

Many people also 'protect' themselves when they use health services. One in three had not told their regular GP about their sexuality or gender identity.

'While these findings are very worrying,' said Professor Marian Pitts, Director of ARCSHS and a senior researcher on the study, 'we were heartened to realise that each situation improves with age.' 'We found that, as people got older, they were less likely to be depressed. And people's behaviour at work and with their families becomes more relaxed as they age, although some people over 70 indicate a renewed tendency to “hide” behaviours.'

Ms Anne Mitchell, Director of Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and an Associate Professor with ARCSHS, said the report indicated the importance of strategies to increase social acceptance of GLBTI people.

'There is a need for more public and workplace education around the issues of sexuality and gender identity. We also need increased relationship recognition and more secure funding for support groups for same sex attracted young people,' she said. The report was launched by the Victorian Health Minister, Ms Bronwyn Pike, who at the same time launched a web-based clearinghouse of health information developed at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria.