Lift every voice: voices of African-American lesbian elders

J Lesbian Stud. 2015;19(1):50-8. doi: 10.1080/10894160.2015.972755.

Abstract

Old lesbians of African descent have experienced racism, heterosexism, homophobia, and ageism. This article explores the topics of aging, ageism, heterosexism, and minority stress among older African-American lesbians. The narratives and subsequent analysis offer significant contributions to the dialogue regarding Black aging lesbians in the aging and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities generally and in the African-American and African-American lesbian communities specifically.

Keywords: African Americans; African-American lesbians; Black lesbian elders; Black lesbians; ageism; aging; elders; heterosexism; lesbians of African descent; minority stress; old lesbians; older adults; racism; seniors.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Aged
  • Ageism*
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Female
  • Homophobia*
  • Homosexuality, Female / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Minority Groups
  • Racism*
  • Social Support*
  • United States