Aging and Transgender Bisexuals: Exploring the Intersection of Age, Bisexual Sexual Identity, and Transgender Identity

Abstract

This study is the first to examine the experiences and needs of an international sample of current, English-speaking, bisexual, and transgender-identified adults (trans-bisexuals) on a number of later-life and end-of-life (EOL) perceptions, preparations, and concerns. In particular, the author analyzed a subset (n = 147) of the cross-sectional data collected from the online Trans MetLife Survey on Later-Life Preparedness and Perceptions in Transgender-Identified Individuals (N = 1,963). The author assessed perceptions and fears around aging, preparation for later life and end of life, as well as numerous demographic and psychosocial variables. Despite the fact that many respondents feel that they have aged successfully, the respondent trans-bisexual population harbors significant fears around later life challenges. Additionally the author found that this population is ill prepared for the major legalities and events that occur in the later to end-of-life time periods.

KEYWORDS:

• aging
• eldercare
• end of life
• gender
• gender identity
• gender self-perception
• later life
• bisexual
• LGBT
• queer
• sex
• sexuality
• transsexual
• transgender
• trans-bisexual

Acknowledgments

TMW is indebted to a discussion instigated by Dr. Brian Grossman at the Rainbow Research Meeting held at the San Diego, California 2012 Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. In particular, TMW acknowledges that the idea for this article came from a comment made by Kristin Porter suggesting that the GSA Rainbow Research Group consider a symposium panel on bisexualities.

Notes on contributor

Tarynn M. Witten, PhD, LCSW, FGSA, is a Professor of Biological Complexity and of Women's and Gender Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and holder of the Inaugural Nathan W. and Margaret Shock New Investigator Research Award from the Gerontological Society of America. Her book, “The Tao of Gender,” is a Taoist view of the transgender experience. Her newest book is, “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Aging: Challenges in Research, Practice and Policy” (the Johns Hopkins Medical University Press). She is the co-author of a soon to appear Springer textbook for medical and nursing students entitled “Introduction to Transgender Medicine and Healthcare.” She is an outspoken advocate for the rights of the transgender and intersex-identified elderly.