"I never dreamt that
we would have this kind of freedom. I never dreamt that it would be so easy,"
says one of the interviewees in this early documentary about the lives of elderly
lesbians and gays. Men and women in New York, Chicago, Key West, Miami and Tucson
talk about early struggles before the recent more accepting atmosphere, contorting
their lives before being able to come out. Merle lived with her partner
for 58 years before she passed away. A male New York couple has been together
for 54 years, and Brother Paul left the monastery where he had spent most of his
life, coming out at age 72. In addition to the challenges of growing older,
many rely on younger gay and lesbian friends to step in to help, since they do
not have children to take them to doctors appointments and the like. Organizations
like SAGE (Senior Action in a Gay Environment) have been formed to provide social
services in several communities. On the flip side, many younger lgbt people have
found substitute grandmothers and grandfathers in older lesbians and gays when
their blood families have rejected them. Also of note is the interview with
the late Barbara Deming, lesbian feminist, peace activist and nonviolent change
theorist.
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