Overview

Older adults with non-heterosexual identities such as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are less visible in the conversations around the rights and well-being of sexual minorities in India. We conducted qualitative research using a community-based participatory approach to understand kinship in the older LGB+ population of urban India. Our approach involved conducting in-depth interviews with people representing various identities within the older LGB+ population. Our research question was - what are the different forms of kinship, their perceived meaning and significance in the lives of LGB+ individuals aged 50 and above living in urban India? We used frameworks of minority stress theory and intersectionality to inform our approach to this study.

Rationale

Older adults with non-heterosexual identities such as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are less visible in the conversations around the rights and well-being of sexual minorities in India.  Some issues of concern that this population include challenges in accessing health, coming to terms with one's identity and property-related decision-making, amongst others.  Social relations, including spouses, parents, siblings, romantic partners, friends and other chosen families, can be a pillar of support for the older LGB+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and other related identities) population in navigating these challenges. This topic, however, is severely underexplored by researchers in the Indian context even though India is the most populous country in the world and has a growing elderly population.  

Progress till date

The project has finished the data collection and analysis phases and is currently in the process of disseminating the findings to the relevant stakeholders and the general public.