Against the current: A grounded theory study on the estrangement experiences of a select group of Filipino gay older persons

ABSTRACT

According to Healthy People (2011), in order to understand the health concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT), the oppression and discrimination that they have faced must be scrutinized. Among the many issues they face, their estrangement experiences are one of the most understudied. However, little is known about how it is experienced by the gay elderly population, hence, this investigation. This grounded theory purports to describe the process by which estrangement is experienced among the Filipino gay older adults. Strauss and Corbin’s Grounded Theory (1990) design was utilized. A total of 10 gay older persons were purposively chosen to participate in semi-structured interviews. Field texts were subjected to thematic analysis involving open, axial, and selective coding. The study generated The Sailing Model of Estrangement. Remarkably, three phases relative to estrangement emerged, namely: sequestering, striving, and surviving. Primarily, the sequestering phase involves the gay persons’ need to express self, search for acceptance, and its subsequent reactions. The striving phase typifies the struggle in dealing with estrangement leading to either feelings of depression, remorse and shame or positivity, hopefulness, and motivation. Finally, in the surviving phase, gay persons may either feel contented and fulfilled or sad, lonely, and remorseful as they acquiesce aging with estrangement. Findings of the study offer an understanding of how Filipino gay older adults employ coping strategies in response to estrangement.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the Home for the Golden Gays for providing us with the participants whose rich and meaningful experiences catalyzed the accomplishment of this article. It was established in the 1980s and served as a home and organization that catered to gay Filipino elderly. The facility used to accommodate 60 gay elderly. However, upon the death of the founder, the home is no longer operational. In spite of this, the vice president of the organization is still in contact with the members and is still able to sustain a small office situated in Pasay City where the interviews were conducted. The organization is still active as of the making of this article, but lacks a permanent residence that will serve as the home for the gay people.