New housing development for LGBTQ people 55+

I’ve actually worked in aged care and met some very, very lonely lgbt elderly people who are ostracised by the others (remember we are talking about elderly people). Also when you get to that age, you just want to be able to relax and feel comfortable with your ‘own’. Let’s not make this nasty. There’s enough going on in the world.

Can you imagine if someone proposed a 'super straight' housing scheme?

You mean like housing run by religious organisations, with a Christian outlook?
Or slanted towards a more ‘orthodox’ population?
Super straight is the default. Imagine not having to continually explain your life choices and experiences to others you are living with.
Niche market provision sounds good.

Sorry for the typos. Can't edit on the app.

I think it's a lovely idea. LGB people in late middle age are perhaps less likely to have children and the community support here will be a great thing for years to come.

There are very few transmen of this age.
The recently transitioned AGP transwomen are unlikely to get much thrill or validation here either and not want in. I don't think current trends for TQ+ should be used to deny LGB people something that will make life better for them.

there are some trans people who forget they transitioned and need support coming to terms with missing body parts,

I shouldn't laugh but this really tickled me. It's the way it's written I think and stress response to worrying about my mum's advancing years and mild confusion at times. Then I realised that there is a lot of focus on young people transitioning and the effect on them of having perfectly healthy body parts removed. In advancing age with dementia there could be some real distress and confusion relating to missing body parts and I've not read anything anywhere that mentions this. Has it been thought about and discussed anywhere? I hadn't thought about when transitioners get to old age and what issues they might have. I've nurses confused patients in their 80s who thought they were still 21 and just married. Imagine thinking that (if the memory was only intact before transition) then you notice you are missing your breasts or penis and the sheer horror and distress that would cause. The powers that be that think it's cool and ok to remove body parts need to think about their patients 20,39,40,50, 60,70 years down the line and how this so called cure is going to impact them. I'd be really interested in ready anything about this.

I understand that. The post in question was talking about a group of dementia patients they had worked with.

It's not actually clear if the retirement complex will cater for needs like this tbh.

And if so, it's not just patients who can be phobic:

"It was exactly this realisation that led Geoff Pine, one of Tonic’s founders, to first contemplate the idea of LGBTQ+ retirement-community living 20 years ago. Today, he’s an ambassador for the project, having stood down from its board last year. In the early 00s, his late partner, Jamie, was diagnosed with a terminal heart condition. “I was working full-time,” Pine explains, “so we had carers coming in. Jamie knew he was dying, but at one stage became particularly depressed. When I asked what was happening, he told me that the woman who came to look after him every morning would get on to her hands and knees by his bed, and pray for his condemned gay soul. It was horrendous.”"
(From the Guardian link from last year)

@popebishop look on the original post - it clearly says the new development is for over 55 year old.

@popebishop You are correct about that apologies.

Can you quote the bit that suggests this? I can't see anything about a cut off of age 55.

Maybe just some respite from prejudice?

@popebishop I did not say that 55+ do not get dementia what i said is that the poster is suggesting that anyone over 55 are more likely, once loss of faculties occur, start expressing racist and homophobic opinions.

which is just plainly a generalisation, just like under 55 are never racist prejudiced or homophobic which is also not true.

It is as i said a bad attitude towards age as a marker for beliefs and values.

I think that this is a fantastic idea. They will all tie themselves into knots over how they define themselves and each other. It also sets a precedent which would presumably allow an all biologically female block of flats, which would be great fun to live in. Or am I being too optimistic here and would find the men in dresses and beards lining up.

Well that told you @MoreHairyThanScary you are wrong, no over-55s have dementia and those that do are all perfectly polite to everyone.

@MoreHairyThanScary

I am 61 we are talking about 55+ we are not 80+ and have nothing in common with that age group which you in general terms seem to be talking about.

My age range is much more progressive and not as likely to be prone to the pre sixties prejudices you refer to

I really resent the inference that if you are over 55 then you possess the same attitude as 70 or 80+

And even then it is a massive generalisation. Plenty of older people, including the elderly are progressive too

Talk about ageism

FFS

We possibly talked about this a year ago?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/feb/02/i-knew-i-wanted-to-stay-here-for-the-rest-of-my-life-how-london-got-its-first-lgbtq-retirement-community

I think it's a nice idea but don't know how they would stop anyone applying- if you are hetero and wanted to go there you could just say you are the relevant gender, or bi etc. You'd probably not be outwardly homophobic to do that at least.

Actually I think there probably is a need, I work with older people many with dementia and the social filter is frequently just not there. Old prejudices are laid bare. I have had to support students who have experienced racist abuse and I don't doubt there would be homophobic / transphobic abuse too.

Older people who have lived under the rainbow should be able to live calmly without being exposed to this, and living with others in similar circumstances should help reduce the risk.

@TheClogLady Well your post information is very interesting.

Setting aside my GC proclivities, i am all for LA’s social policy breaking barriers down where tribal exclusivity occurs, which is common in cities.

I cannot imagine this is going to promote social harmony in one fell swoop

Indeed!

Noo not THOSE sort of Ls.

Not local, no, but I’m really surprised it hasn’t been raised tbh.

Actually, no I’m not ☹️

@SirChenjins i hope you are local and can put this in the It’s a good point.

If it's for anyone that considers themselves a member of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, then surely it's open to everyone. It looks like the only actual verifiable criteria is that you already live in the Manchester area.

Yes, a fairly general question which is meaningless when set against the statement “open and inclusive, physical and psychological place of safety”. How can you have women with gender critical views living alongside men who believe they are women and therefore entitled to access female only spaces? You can’t - unless it means that women will not be allowed female only spaces in which they can feel safe, which negates the aim.

They need to be far clearer about who is and isn’t welcome - which is why tagging T and Q onto an established community based on biological sex doesn’t work.

Not new https://www.consortium.lgbt/member-directory/tonic-housing-association/ I wouldn't care what anyone was/ wasn't, as long as they shared space nicely and were good neighbours. Targetting a group for a development doesn't necessarily make for an harmonious community. I work in housing and believe me, having a group of any shared characteristic in one place does not make for a calm and joyous environment, as the human factor that makes us all different will raise its head regardless!

Whalley Range is almost 40% Muslim and I’m mindful of the ‘No Outsiders’ kerfuffle in Birmingham.

Really hope I’m just being over sensitive here and this isn’t some ham fisted attempt to force a well
established conservative religious community to budge up for the councils rainbow rating (and that the future residents aren’t going to be used as culture war pawns)

https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/northwestengland/wards/manchester/E05011379__whalley_range/

The British Muslim Heritage Centre overlooks the proposed site:

https://bmhc.org.uk/

Sadly, I don’t trust MCR city council as far as I could throw them.