The Living of Ageing LGBT

Abstract

This qualitative research study examines the living conditions of elderly LGBT individuals, focusing on their life situations, life patterns, and factors influencing their quality of life The study employed in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with LGBT elderly individuals aged 55 and above. Data were collected through purposive sampling followed by snowball sampling, resulting in 23 participants from 6 provinces under the responsibility of the Office of Academic Promotion and Support 7. Data analysis involved categorization, content interpretation, and analysis.

            The research findings reveal that the living situations of elderly LGBT individuals encompass five dimensions: family, education, occupation, social/community, and self-expression. Through synthesis of interview data from all 23 participants, three distinct life patterns were identified, corresponding to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:

            Pattern 1: Physiological Needs - Individuals with primary to high school education working in labor and agriculture. Their life situations include: Family dimension - families remain unaccepting and restrictive regarding gender identity, with parents desiring children to conform to their biological sex. Education dimension - limited learning and self-development opportunities, though possessing specialized agricultural expertise in rice farming and cultivation, knowing how to maximize yields and investment returns. Occupation dimension - families engaged in traditional agriculture passed down through generations, practicing sufficiency economy and sustainable farming; despite unstable income, maintaining adequate daily living without financial distress and finding happiness in the sufficiency lifestyle. Social/community dimension - participating in activities when not occupied during farming seasons. Self-expression dimension - desiring freedom in living and seeking life partnerships.

            Pattern 2: Love and Social Needs - Individuals with diploma to bachelor’s degree education working in civil service, retired government positions, and private business or commerce. Their life situations include: Family dimension - less warm family relationships due to non-acceptance; families don’t force but attempt to direct life paths. Education dimension - self-motivated learning and seeking opportunities for self-development, demonstrating above-average capabilities to gain social acceptance. Occupation dimension - parents have both stable and unstable careers while participants maintain stable careers with financial security. Social/community dimension - during school years, some peer groups did not accept their gender identity, experiencing severe verbal bullying that caused psychological impact and emotional wounds; currently participate willingly in community activities as volunteers whenever opportunities arise. Self-expression dimension - clear expression regarding love, seeking love without attachment.

            Pattern 3: Esteem Needs - Individuals with bachelor’s degree or higher education in civil service, retired government positions, and private business. Their life situations include: Family dimension - warm relationships with gender identity acceptance, no pressure or coercion, resulting in participants having optimistic worldviews. Education dimension - received quality educational opportunities, demonstrated knowledge and abilities, with continuous capability development. Occupation dimension - both parents and participants have stable careers with expertise in their fields and good financial and social standing. Social/community dimension - serve as core leaders in social and community activities, receiving respect and recognition. Self-expression dimension - varying degrees of gender expression; desire workplace acceptance and ability to live happily and freely; do not seek romantic partnerships, with family as the center of happiness.

Five key factors influencing life patterns and active aging (resilience) of participants were identified: 1) family conditions, 2) economic status, 3) educational opportunities, 4) community and society, and 5) self-expression. Starting with family - lacking nurturing with love and warmth, poor relationships between family members, families that don’t accept and restrict gender diversity. Regarding income - unstable family economics, mostly in agriculture, general labor, or small trade; this group has little or no land ownership, minimal capital, and often rents land and housing for their livelihood. For education – parents’ education level generally correlates with participants’ education levels; parents with below-basic education tend to result in children receiving only basic education opportunities. Concerning community and society - communities not accepting gender diversity impact community members who mock both LGBT individuals and their families about gender identity. For self-expression - important behavioral characteristics include clear expression according to one’s gender identity, desire for social acceptance, preference for friends with similar or same gender identities, need for love and understanding regarding gender identity, and ultimately, desire for freedom in living.

In summary, these five factors affect the acceptance or non-acceptance of gender diversity in Thai society and impact individual behavior and decision-making, reflecting quality of life characteristics or active aging at vulnerable levels. Meanwhile, participants with excellent active aging conditions demonstrate opposite characteristics in all five factors.

The study proposes three approaches for promoting and developing quality of life for elderly LGBT individuals based on in-depth interviews and preliminary research findings: (1) building relationships and understanding within families, (2) creating relationships and understanding in communities and society, and (3) promoting and developing quality of life for elderly target populations.

Recommendations include: 1) The Department of Older Persons Affairs should delegate to Elderly Quality of Life Development and Career Promotion Centers (EQLDCPCs) to implement quality of life promotion activities for elderly and LGBT elderly to ensure social equality, 2) The Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development should assign Family Development Centers (FDCs) to collaborate with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) to implement family learning activities on equal treatment of family members, building relationships and understanding, accepting families with gender diversity, and adding curriculum on family acceptance and understanding of gender diversity to the Family School program, and 3) Future research should expand the sample scope to study elderly LGBT living situations across broader social and cultural contexts affecting LGBT elderly lives more comprehensively.