Because of delays in responses to correspondence and outcomes of meetings, and because of bureaucratic inaction and responses, we have decided that what follows will be put in chronological order to facilitate better understanding.
20 February 2003
LETTER TO COUNCIL ON THE AGEING AND NATIONAL SENIORS ASSOCIATION
We sent you the letter below and as we have received no acknowledgement,
we are writing to confirm that you received it.
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
To: nsaceo@nationalseniors.com, cota@cota.org.au
Subject: ageing gay and lesbians in the community
Date sent: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 00:57:30 +1100
We are writing to ask what provisions your organisations have made to deal
with the
issue of ageing gays and lesbians in the community.
We are aware that a great deal of discrimination occurs -both official and
unofficial
in dealing with the human rights issues of those of us in the community
who happen
to be gay or lesbian.
As examples, the Federal Government's superannuation laws do not allow
same-
sex partner benefits, hospital visits by a same-sex partner can be denied,
pensions
for partners of same-sex partners are not available. All Federal laws
discriminate
against gays and lesbians.
At a different level, when gays or lesbians have to enter nursing homes
there are
homophobic attacks against them and their same-sex partners, and also
staff in
nursing homes who happen to be gay or lesbian are often discriminated
against to
their disadvantage.
We are concerned that little effort has been made by groups representing
the
ageing members of the community to address the issues confronting gays and
lesbians.
When we lived in New South Wales we were part of a group which was formed
to
address the treatment of sexual minorities in local government areas, and
successfully managed to get these issues into policy documents of the
Local
Government Association in that state.
Now that we are living in Victoria we are hoping to be able to effect
changes in local
government areas where discrimination is still a major issue for sexual
minorities in
the community.
We are ultimately aiming to effect equal human rights changes for sexual
minorities
at state and federal levels, and we ask you to inform us of your
organisations'
intentions in this regard.
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
PO Box 1675
Preston South
Vic 3072
Phone: (03)9471 4878
email: josken_at_zipworld_com_au
5 March 2003
Sent: Wednesday, 5 March 2003 1:55 AM
To: nsaceo@nationalseniors.com.au; cota
Subject: ageing gay and lesbians in the community
We sent you the letter below and as we have received no acknowledgement,
we
are
writing to confirm that you received it.
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
To: nsaceo@nationalseniors.com, cota@cota.org.au
Subject: ageing gay and lesbians in the community
Date sent: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 00:57:30 +1100
We are writing to ask what provisions your organisations have made to deal
with the
issue of ageing gays and lesbians in the community.
We are aware that a great deal of discrimination occurs -both official and
unofficial
in dealing with the human rights issues of those of us in the community
who
happen
to be gay or lesbian.
As examples, the Federal Government's superannuation laws do not allow
same-
sex partner benefits, hospital visits by a same-sex partner can be denied,
pensions
for partners of same-sex partners are not available. All Federal laws
discriminate
against gays and lesbians.
At a different level, when gays or lesbians have to enter nursing homes
there are
homophobic attacks against them and their same-sex partners, and also
staff
in
nursing homes who happen to be gay or lesbian are often discriminated
against to
their disadvantage.
We are concerned that little effort has been made by groups representing
the
ageing members of the community to address the issues confronting gays and
lesbians.
When we lived in New South Wales we were part of a group which was formed
to
address the treatment of sexual minorities in local government areas, and
successfully managed to get these issues into policy documents of the
Local
Government Association in that state.
Now that we are living in Victoria we are hoping to be able to effect
changes in local
government areas where discrimination is still a major issue for sexual
minorities in
the community.
We are ultimately aiming to effect equal human rights changes for sexual
minorities
at state and federal levels, and we ask you to inform us of your
organisations'
intentions in this regard.
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
PO Box 1675
Preston South
Vic 3072
Phone: (03)9471 4878
email: josken_at_zipworld_com_au
6 March 2003
On 6 Mar 2003 at 10:43, Gwen Gilbert wrote:
Dear Mannie and Kendall
Thank you for your email and we apologise for taking so long to answer it.
Our Director, Patricia Reeve, will reply to your letter as soon as
possible.
Best regards
Gwen Gilbert
Executive Assistant
COTA National Seniors Policy Secretariat
Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent
Melbourne Vic 3004
Ph: 03 9820 2655
25 March 2003
From: josken_at_zip_com_au
Sent: Tuesday, 25 March 2003 1:31 AM
To: Gwen Gilbert
Subject: RE: ageing gay and lesbians in the community
Dear Gwen
Any idea when we may expect a response to our letter?
Regards,
Mannie and Kendall
27 March 2003
From: Gwen Gilbert
To: josken_at_zip_com_au
Subject: RE: ageing gay and lesbians in the community
Date sent: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 12:20:29 +1100
Dear Mannie and Kendall
I have no idea when you can expect a response to your email. However,
it
has not been forgotten!
Life is more than a little busy here - as well as all the everyday work
which appears to be increaing at a rapid rate, we have undergone an
amalgamation and an office renovation and everyone is running and trying
to
catch up. Patricia is currently interstate.
I am sorry about the delay and I will bring your email to Patricia's
attention again when she returns.
RESPONSE FROM COUNCIL ON THE AGEING (COTA) 4 APRIL 2003
Thanks for sending this research.
I apologise for delay in answering your original letter, I am still
collecting information from our 8 state organisations about any specific
activities/policy/advocacy they have done.
In terms of membership we recognise same sex couples for joint membership.
In Victoria we have worked with Vintage Men, an organisation for gay older
men. Members have also raised the issue of feeling a need to "return to the
closet" when seeking supported accommodation.
We have no national policy. We are just in the process of implementing new
policy development processes involving members, I will raise your issue.
I will write again when I have more complete information.
Patricia
Patricia Reeve
Director
National Policy Secretariat
COTA National Seniors
Level 2, 3 Bowen Cres
Melbourne 3004
Phone: 03 9820 2655
Mobile: 0409810249
17 April 2003
REPLY FROM NATIONAL SENIORS ASSOCIATION (NSA)
From: Rosalind Weaver
To: josken_at_zip_com_au
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 4:52 PM
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
I refer to your e-mail of 5 March 2003.
National Seniors Association is a membership organisation for people aged 50 and over, with a membership of over 230,000 people.
We have available single or joint memberships. Our joint membership is offered to couples living in the same household and does not discriminate on the basis of gender or marital status.
National Seniors makes representation to Local, State and Federal Governments on all issues of concern to its members, issues which are raised for debate and voting on at Branch meetings and ultimately incorporated in our Policy Documents.
As yet, our members have not raised the issue of discrimination against lesbian or homosexual seniors in the areas you refer to - superannuation, pension, aged care - or any others. However, should it be raised by members for inclusion in our policy development, the issue will undergo the same fair and impartial process of debate and voting.
I hope this information is of assistance.
Yours sincerely
David Deans
Chief Executive
18 May 2003
LETTER FROM Inter~Section MELBOURNE TO FIFTY~PLUS NEWS
From: Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett,
InterSection,
PO Box 1675, Preston South Vic 3072.
email: josken_at_zipworld_com_au
Tel: 9471 4878
Your anonymous letter writer about elder abuse (May 2003) asks for
other readers' comments on the issue. We certainly would like to air a
situation which no one talks about, abuse and discrimination of those in
the community who happen to be ageing lesbians, gay men and transgender
people.
In 1997 an activist group, InterSection, was formed in NSW
to highlight the covert discriminatory attitudes to lesbians, gays and
transgendered people in local government services. It was instrumental in
having the NSW Local Government & Shires Assn agree to a resolution “to
develop policy regarding support for the social and cultural needs of the
gay and lesbian community in NSW.”
As two of the founding members of InterSection, when we
came to live in Melbourne, we set it up here. Our website is
www.zipworld.com.au/~josken
Discrimination occurs officially and unofficially and enables
abuse to occur against sexual minorities. Heterosexist language and
the expectations of organisers can also be barriers to participation of
same-sex couples in research projects on the health and well- being of an
ageing population.
Because service providers and health professionals do not
acknowledge our existence in mainstream service promotions,
gays, lesbians and transgendered people know from experience that
the fear myths of proselytising and propositioning will isolate them even
more so as elders than when they were mobile and in gainful employment.
The attitudes of staff and residents particularly in care establishments
are generally dismissive and homophobic.The fact that Federal Government
laws on super benefits do not cover same-sex partners adds to
discriminatory abuse. As well, same-sex partners do not have the same
rights as heterosexual couples in hospitals and nursing homes. Even
visiting rights are purely discretional for a same-sex partner and no
intestate rights. This is particularly abusive if a same-sex partner dies
intestate having shared house and home with the partner for years.
Now that COTA and National Seniors have joined forces,
InterSection is planning to alert the organisation to the needs of
those of us who do not regard ourselves as heterosexual in
orientation.
Sincerely,
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
for InterSection Melbourne
24 June 2003
BRIEF REPORT
on a couple of Seniors Meetings in Melbourne attended by Mannie & Ken
Tuesday, 24 June 2003: Council on the Ageing ( COTA) Seminar in City Central
Title: “What must be done to make Community Services work better?”
Attendance: 100 including representatives from various aged care services but it was noticeably short of Asian and Aboriginal people.
Coordinator: Vivienne McCutcheon
Panel: Five speakers, including the Vic Minister for Aged Care, Gavin Jennings. Other speakers were Sue Hendy (COTA), Jean Elder (Myer Foundation 2020 Vision Project), Jane Mussared (Community Services, Aged Care & Housing Group South Australia), and Jeannine Jacobson (Vic Department of Health Service DHS).
General Impressions
All the speakers talked intelligently about the broader issues but no mention of GLBTI issues having ever intruded into their consciousnesses. Pressures were identified and recognised as needing attention and where the system was falling down. The underlying problem that kept emerging in the presentations seemed to be that there was too much fragmentation of funding.
Apparently there are 17 separate streams of funding for different aged care services that come from Federal Government sources and 15 from the State Government. All these it seems aren’t able to be allocated anywhere else other than to the specifically designated service. This fact accounted for the
kind of “bed blockage” in Victoria’s public hospitals which has become the sad reality.
Comments
Audience participation was limited to Questions to the Panel at the end of the 2-hour Seminar. There was no break until after the roughly half-hour question time. We pointed out that two & a half hours is too long for seniors to sit without a break. Furthermore, we said we should have been able to put our comments or questions after each presentation. As it was, the Minister left soon after he had opened proceedings with a speech about how supportive his government was of seniors and of aged care services, so no one got the chance to question him, not even the panel members. (Did he perhaps feel intimidated by the strength in the meeting?)
We wonder because there was less than a dozen men in the audience which meant he was facing near enough 90 or more women.
We asked the panel why they thought so few men had attended. We didn’t get an answer probably because when we managed to put our question (obviously we would get only the one chance considering the size of the audience and the time factor) so put our question in three parts. The main one of course was that as same-sex partners we would like to know what training care workers receive regarding the needs of older lesbians and gay men in the community. None was the answer from the executive director of COTA, as far as she knew.
Nevertheless, it prompted a couple of positive comments from the audience directed to us. One in particular came from a service provider who said that as someone who allocated places in care establishments she tried to make sure that gays were able to share the same room. It was important to her because she was a lesbian and would expect that consideration herself. At least by identifying ourselves as gays, we allowed her to do the same.
There were many good questions and comments from the audience. One was from a woman who said she would like to know of someone who could be depended upon to come and put a new washer on a tap and that sort of thing --small things she was unable to do herself. Was there such a service available as part of homecare? Another woman said that the issues she was hearing from the speakers were the same ones she had been hearing for the past 15 years but why hadn’t there been any discussion by the speakers about suicide in the aged community.
Interestingly, a woman sitting next to us saw that we had a copy of the ALSO booklet, “Over the Rainbow” Guide to the law in Victoria for lesbians and gay men. She said she had never seen it before and where could she get a copy, We provided her with the necessary information. It turned out she was on the policy committee of COTA.
28 June 2003
Saturday, 28 June 2003: The ALSO Foundation 2003 COMMUNITY FORUMS
Title: “The Needs of Older Gay, Lesbian & Transgender People Project”
Held in Heidelberg West, this was the third and Final Forum in this series. ALSO will publish a Full Report on the findings of all three in a couple of months we were told.
Attendance: Between 30 to 40 people (roughly gender parity)
Coordinators: Heather and Darryl.
Format: After welcoming the audience the coordinators explained why ALSO had organised the Forums and the audience was invited to participate by providing input to a range of questions based on the needs, currently and in the future, of non-hetero seniors.
The coordinators would each present the questions to us in two separate groups with women in one group with Heather, and men with Darryl in the other. We then broke into two groups and went to separate rooms in the community centre in which we were meeting.
General Impressions
In the men’s group the discussion got going quickly when one of the group asked if there was someone like a gay guardian or gay ombudsman who could be contacted to advise on particular problems being experienced such as in home care, hospitalisation etc. He said many older gay men, especially those who live alone, prefer to talk to someone who is gay and can understand their reticence in seeking advice from some straights. Maybe there could be some kind of register that could indicate gay friendly doctors, gay friendly nursing homes or hospitals and especially gay doctors prepared to make house calls to frail older gay men or their partners. He thought that it may be a service for ALSO to undertake. Others suggested that it could be a service SWITCHBOARD may consider if extra funding could be made available for such a service.
Others in the group were keen on a facility which would provide some kind of venue for older gays and lesbians different from the current commercial venues which catered mainly to younger gays. They thought even a coffee shop --somewhere that would get them out of their homes to mix with other older gays-- even somewhere they could go at night-time, not necessarily just during the daytime. Someone asked if anyone remembered a scheme which had received a lot of support from gay men who subscribed to it more or less along the lines of what was being suggested. Nevertheless, the project had foundered without trace. He thought it could be revived and perhaps started up in a central position such as East Melbourne.
One of the group wasn’t enthusiastic. He said that it was okay for city seniors but what about country gays. He said the census had indicated that Ballarat had the most gay couples of any country town in Victoria but where are they? He thought it was a bit of a myth because rural Victoria had the majority of gay suicides which the whole gay community needed to address.
Darryl was asked about a rumour which was circulating outside the State that Victoria’s government had allocated a large amount of money for a GLBTI Health Resource Centre and did ALSO know anything about such a grant? He said this was probably a promise made at election time last year but the money wasn’t for ALSO or to any other organisation. He understood that it was being reserved for university GLBTI research projects.
The discussion also highlighted the religious bias in the community against us. One of the group said he felt that it was over-emphasised. Others disagreed. They said that a large percentage of aged care facilities are run by religious organisations which meant that bible-based discrimination against us is practised unhindered because religious beliefs or religious principles are exempted in the Equal Opportunity Act (see P.10 in the ALSO “Over the Rainbow” Guide to the law). One of those present said you only had to live in rural Victoria to discover homophobia is very much alive and church-based.
One of the group got up and walked out of the discussion apparently because he considered it to be too city-centred and that the participants were unwilling to be concerned about the plight of older gays in rural towns outside Melbourne.
Other comments included writing letters to mainstream seniors newspapers such as The Victorian Senior, The Australian Senior and Fifty-Plus News to air your views; work with your local Council who are the ones who provide services to seniors. Alert them to your needs as a gay senior. Most Councils don’t believe we exist in their area. Give our gay media --newspapers, Joy radio and Bent TV (Channel 31)-- a serve on occasions about the needs of lesbian and gay seniors. It was also suggested that it’s worthwhile to turn up to some of the seminars and meetings organised by the mainstream seniors organisations (Council on the Ageing/ National Seniors) and let them know that we exist and are not prepared to go back into the closet just because our hair has turned to silver. These organisations have to include us in their policy documents and recognise our legitimacy.
It was pointed out towards the end of the session that there were no Asian or Aboriginal gays or trannies amongst us at the forum --in other words ethnic people-- who certainly must be around.
Kendall Lovett for InterSection
The ALSO Foundation has issued a report (in 2004, but otherwise undated) called: About Time! GLBT Seniors ALSO Matter - Strategic Plan which may be accessed by clicking on to the link below:
To: cota
Subject: (Fwd) gay and lesbian ageing issues policies
Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 23:53:54 +1100
Just a note to confirm that you received the email below.
Regards,
Mannie and Ken
To: cota
Subject: gay and lesbian ageing issues policies
Date sent: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 01:21:08 +1100
Dear Patricia
We are writing to find out whether there has been any policy development
in your
organisation relating to lesbian and gay ageing issues.
You stated you would write again when you had further information, and as
it is
some several months since we had this communication from you we thought we
would find out what developments have taken place since then.
Regards,
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett, InterSection (Gay and Lesbian Ageing
Issues)
(This is a copy of the earlier letter shown under 4 April 2003 from COTA National Seniors)
Thanks for sending this research.
I apologise for delay in answering your original letter, I am still
collecting information from our 8 state organisations about any specific
activities/policy/advocacy they have done.
In terms of membership we recognise same sex couples for joint
membership.
In Victoria we have worked with Vintage Men, an organisation for gay
older
men.Members hae also raised the issue of feeling a need to "return to
the
closet" when seeking supported accommodation
We have no national policy. We are just intheprocess of implementing
new
policy development processes involving members, I will raise your issue.
I will write again whenI have more complete information.
Patricia
Patricia Reeve
Director
National Policy Secretariat
COTA National Seniors
Level 2, 3 Bowen Cres
Melbourne 3004
Phone: 03 9820 2655
Mobile: 0409810249
8 June 2004
From: Patricia Reeve
To: josken_at_zipworld_com_au
Subject: Policy on gay and lesbian seniors
Date sent: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 12:18:48 +1000
Mannie and Kendall
Formal policy resolutions for adoption by COTA National Seniors originate
in
branches and in state forums.
I have recently read some very interesting material on GLBT seniors on
the
ALSO web-site. Later in the year we may be able to do an information
paper
for members to raise these important issues for consideration
Patricia Reeve
Director
National Policy Secretariat
COTA National Seniors Partnership
Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent
Melbourne 3004
-----Original Message-----
From: josken_at_zip_com_au [mailto:josken_at_zip_com_au]
Sent: Thursday, 7 April 2005 12:56 AM
To: Rosalind Weaver
Subject: Re: Fw: gay and lesbian ageing policies
In view of the fact that COTA and National Seniors are no longer
amlgamating, we would like to know whether there have been any policy
discussions in NSA in regard to gay and lesbian ageing issues. We look
forward to hearing from you soon. Regards, Mannie De Saxe and Kendall
Lovett, InterSection, Melbourne
16 July 2004
On 16 July 2004 a seminar on gay, lesbian and transgender ageing was held in Newcastle under the auspices of the University of Newcastle. The speakers at the seminar were Jo Harrison of the University of South Australia and Peter Robinson of RMIT Melbourne. Details of the seminar will be available shortly.
17 July 2004
On 17 July 2004 Rainbow Visions Newcastle held an all-day forum on gay, lesbian and transgender ageing. About 40 people attended the forum, participants coming from Adelaide, Melbourne, Northern New South Wales, Central Coast and, of course, Newcastle. Details of the forum will be found on Reports from the Rainbow Visions Forum on Gay, Lesbian and Transgender ageing
In view of the fact that COTA and National Seniors are no longer
amlgamating, we would like to know whether there have been any policy
discussions in NSA in regard to gay and lesbian ageing issues. We look
forward to hearing from you soon. Regards, Mannie De Saxe and Kendall
Lovett, InterSection, Melbourne
7 April 2005
7 April 2005 - To COTA - Gwen Gilbert
Dear Gwen,
What is the latest on gay and lesbian ageing issues?
Hope you are keeping well.
Regards,
Mannie De Saxe and Kendall Lovett
8 April 2005
Dear Mannie and Kendall
National Seniors and the COTAs in NT, ACT, Qld and SA merged in February
this year to form one organisation, COTA National Seniors Partnership
(CNSP).
As you are aware, COTA Vic decided not to merge and remains a separate
entity in Victoria.
The process for policy development in CNSP has not changed since my
previous e-mail: seniors issues are raised, debated and voted on by
members (through the branch network and policy committee structure) and
those which are supported by the membership are incorporated into our
Policy Documents.
You do not say whether you are members of National Seniors (now CNSP) but,
if so, raising a policy motion for debate and voting at your nearest
branch is the first step. To find out when and where the Branches meet,
or discuss our policy development procedure in more detail, the staff in
our Victorian office will be happy to help.
