1. GONZAGA UNIVERSITY
Summer 2012
COML508 A1
Chris MacLellan, Katie Nolde,
Lynda Pierce, and Jared Pinkos

2. One of the most underserved communities in America is Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) seniors. They grew up in a time when they
were told that homosexuality was not only a mental illness, but also a crime!
Because of that, many LGBT seniors live in fear because of the social stigma
they experienced as a youth. They grew out of a system they do not trust, but
now are forced to rely on as they age. Applying the phenomenological
tradition, to help understand the plight of LGBT seniors in America, we spoke
with professionals in the field and LGBT seniors in the trenches. Through these
conversations, we are able to identify where society has failed LGBT seniors
and how this is changing to help resolve this failure in our society. We apply
communication theory, propose a new theory, and discuss a solution in the
form of a phone tree for LGBT seniors.

3. If the video does not play, paste this URL into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV3O8qz6Y5g

4.  A 78 year old lesbian would have been 39 before the American
Psychiatric Association finally removed homosexuality form its
list of psychiatric disorders.
 In 1953 President Eisenhower signed an executive order barring
all gay men and lesbian women from holding federal
jobs, calling them people with “sexual perversion”…it wasn’t
lifted until 1975.
 A 68 year old bisexual Vietnam Vet going to the VA hospital www.ronsview.org
would have been 49 when President Clinton implemented
the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. At 68 he would finally see the
ban on gays in the military fully lifted.
 The Stonewall Riots in NYC in June 1969 marked a
turning point in the gay rights movement. Before
this time, secret gay clubs and societies would be
routinely raided and harassed. After the
riots, demonstrations around the country led to
group unity and a new voice (Carter, 2009).
www.threelionspubquiz.blogspot.com

5.  Throughout their life, LGBT seniors have experienced
discrimination solely for being ‘different.’ This discrimination
is a result of Failure in Communication in our society,
resulting in a negative view of the social systems amongst
LGBT seniors. This stigma has potentially dire consequences
as it prevents many LGBT seniors from seeking out needed
medical attention because of their fear of discrimination.
 “A large percentage of LGBT people fear they
might not get LGBT sensitive or medical services.
This prevents some people from seeking out
services when they need them and may prevent
others from being completely honest about their
sexual orientation with their medical providers,
thus possibly setting the stage for sub-standard or
inadequate care….” (SAGE Friendly Visitor Training
www.queerty.com
Curriculum Guide).

6.  To gather information relating to the problem of
LGBT healthcare, including literature and interviews
with professionals who work with the LGBT seniors.
 By applying the phenomenological tradition, we
interview seniors and professionals in the field to
understand the issues with a focus on communication
perspectives.
 By doing so we hope to formulate a potential
communication theory that could be implemented to
help begin to alleviate the situation, and get LGBT
seniors on the path to accessing all health and human
care services.

7. Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann
12/19/16 - 3/25/10
A theory by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann
that is used to explain growth and spread
of public opinion (Griffin, 2009).
www.blogs.worldbank.org
 The increasing pressure people feel to
conceal their views when they think
they are in the minority (Griffin, 2009,
p. 372).
 LGBT seniors, afraid that revealing
their sexual orientation will hurt their
ability to get fair health coverage, will
revert to a spiral of silence and hide
www.ravianuogian.blogspot.com
their sexual identity.

8.  Theory www.unitedchurchhomes.org
 Buber focuses on dialogues between two people
(Griffin, 2012).
 Theory in Action
 Byresearch and completing interviews we are able to
see the lack of sufficient dialogue among LGBT
seniors.
 Application
 The establishment of a phone tree support system
opens up the dialogue in many ways.
 This will allow LGBT seniors the avenue to express
their needs and wishes.
 Will also enable the social service organizations to
know how to better cater to the specific needs of the
community.

9.  Theory
 Unconditional positive regard www.queersunited.blogspot.com
 “attitude of acceptance that is not contingent upon
performance” (Griffin, 2012, p.111)
 Empathetic understanding
 “…temporarily laying aside our views and values and
entering into another’s world without prejudice” (Griffin,
2012, p.111)
 Theory in Action
 Interviews
conducted with an attitude of empathetic
understanding
 Application
 LGBT people are more comfortable obtaining support
from cohorts. They are more likely to take advice
from their cohorts regarding medical health, personal
hygiene, etc. The phone tree fosters this support.

10.  Fewer than half of LGBT people in midlife
believe they will receive respectful care
in old age. As a result they frequently
delay or avoid seeking medical care for a
fear of discrimination or bias (Kimmel et
al, 2006).
 Studies show a higher rate of depression
and suicide among LGBT seniors versus
heterosexual seniors. They also generally
report themselves in poorer health than
heterosexual seniors (Kimmel et al, projectqatlanta.com
2006).
 Long term care is especially a problem. Studies have found
negative attitudes from nursing home staff, inabilities to meet
with or move in with same-sex partners, and refusal to allow
families of choice in on decision making (Kimmel et al, 2006).

11.  Dr. Catherine Campbell, Director of Clinical
Services, SunServe Social Services
 “For the LGBT community, there has been so much
misinformation communicated to the general public about
homosexuality that it is often hard to get beyond the social
stigmas” (Dr. Catherine Campbell, telephone interview, July www.sunserve.org
3, 2012).
 Holly Deni Registered Financial Gerontologist,
Elder Life
 “This same generation of LGBT seniors do not often ask for
help and are afraid of going to the doctor because they do
not want to reveal certain things. For this generation, these
stigmas do no go away, they linger and help form their www.linkedin.com
decisions” (Holly Deni, telephone interview, July 5, 2012).

12.  Loren Olson, PhD Author of Finally Out: Letting Go
of Living Straight, Psychiatrist’s Own Story
 “It is unfortunate that there has to be a presidential
mandate for something that is as simple as who can visit who
in a hospital… Now those rights are protected by the federal
mandate which has helped to take some of the fear out of
LGBT visitation” (Dr. Loren Olson, telephone interview, July
www.mentalhelp.net
5, 2012).
 Sherrill Wayland, Executive Director, SAGE St. Louis
 “One of our basic human needs is to be treated the same as
our peers and to be treated with dignity and respect. LGBT
seniors want to be able to age in place without fear of
neglect. Once we resolve the issue of equality, many of the
fears of LGBT seniors will dissipate which in turn, will have a
positive effect on the health the LGBT senior” (Sherrill
Wayland, telephone interview, July 3, 2012). www.stlbeacon.org

13.  Bernard, 81 years old
 “For years, I was made to feel like a third class citizen when
visiting doctors….There has always been the fear of not being
accepted….Gay seniors often climb into a cocoon to protect
themselves” (“Bernard”, telephone interview, July 4, 2012).
 Tom, 83 years old
 “I am amazed to learn of all the different support groups that
are available for gay seniors. That has helped me meet new
friends and have conversations like I have never had in my life
before….I did not realize that there are so many gay men and
women who live alone” (“Tom”, telephone interview, July 5,
2012).
 Williams, 78 years old
 “All the seniors I interact with, whether they are straight or www.jerkmag.wordpress.com
gay have the same concerns as it relates to health, loneliness,
financial concerns, yet for the LGBT senior who lives out of fear
as they age, that is quite burdensome” (“Williams”, telephone
interview, July 6, 2012).

14.  Seniors’ fears include discrimination, loneliness, and
lack of understanding by health care providers.
 Seniors would benefit from one-on-one contact, to
discuss issues and to reassure them that they are
welcome within the healthcare system.
 Referring to works by Buber and Rogers, we think
that a theory based in the phenomenological
tradition would greatly benefit seniors.
 Existing phone tree programs are working to alleviate
the concerns of LGBT seniors. LGBT seniors are paired
with a supportive volunteer who makes contact each
week.

15.  Theory
 “Theory of Empathetic Communication” purports that
people want to have communication with others who
have situations that are similar to their own, and who
are empathetic to their situations.
 Theory in Action
 Group 5 interviews conducted by a member of the
LGBT community. Interviewees were candid in their
responses.
 Application
 The phone tree supports empathetic communication.
 LGBT seniors have a resource, no matter where they
live, to communicate with empathetic others.

16. www.badgesociety.com
Presidential Memorandum of April 15, 2010. Respecting the Rights of
Hospital Patients to Receive Visitors and Designate Surrogate
Decision Makers for Medical Emergencies.

17.  Applebaum, J. (Producer), Atkin, B. (Producer), Cox,
C. (Producer), & Maddux, S.
(Producer/Director). (2011). Gen Silent [Film].
New York: Interrobang Productions.
 Carter, D. (2009). Stonewall Stories. Advocate,
(1027/1028), 94-99.
 Goltz, D. (2009). Investigating Queer Future
Meanings: Destructive Perceptions of "The
Harder Path". Qualitative Inquiry, 15(3), 561-
586.
 Griffin, E. A. (2009). A first look at communication
theory (7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
 Griffin, E. A. (2012). A first look at communication
theory (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
 http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/default.aspx

18.  Kimmel, D., Rose, T., & David, S. (2006). Lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender aging: Research and
clinical perspectives. New York: Columbia University
Press.
 LGBT Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and Services
and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender Elders (SAGE). (2010). Improving the
Lives of LGBT Older Adults.
 Morris, K. L. (2009). Lessons Learned: How to Provide More
Effective Outreach to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender Seniors. Bifocal, 30(5), 77-78.
 Presidential Memorandum (2010). Respecting the Rights of
Hospital Patients to Receive Visitors and to Designate
Surrogate Decision Makers for Medical Emergencies.
(Presidential Memorandum of April 15, 2010).
Washington, DC: U.S. The White House.

19.  http://www.badgesociety.com/news/housing-complex-for-
lgbt-seniors/
 http://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/story/resources/lgbt-
seniors-overcome-obstacles.415910
 https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/16436/us_and_mis
souri_will_conduct_research_important_to_gays_and_lesbi
ans
 http://www.sunserve.org/therapist_profiles.htm
 http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc
&id=43227
 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/holly-deni/9/91/8bb
 http://diversityworksllc.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000003250093XSmall.jpg

20.  http://blogs.worldbank.org/category/tags/spiral-of-
silence
 http://ravianuogian.blogspot.com/2012/03/spiral-of-
silence-theory.html
 http://www.edgeboston.com/news/national///126105/glb
t_elder_care_services_group_to_build_nyc_center
 http://jerkmag.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/querying-cuse
 http://ronsview.org/2012/04/24/eisenhowers-wisdom/
 http://threelionspubquiz.blogspot.com/2012/06/article-
of-week-stonewall-riots.html
 http://www.queerty.com/getting-old-sucks-even-worse-
for-lgbt-seniors-20110818/gaygrey/
 http://projectqatlanta.com/news_articles/view/stonewall
_veteran_pride_shooting_kylie_minogue?gid=5749