'People forget we exist': Why older LGBTQ+ people fear losing identity
A report suggests older LGBTQ+ people experience more social isolation than their heterosexual peers.
Reporting preview
Mindy says people often presume she is straight because of her age
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.
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