'People forget we exist': Why older LGBTQ+ people fear losing identity

As a 75-year-old lesbian, Mindy Meleyal has lived through every major milestone in the modern LGBT rights movement, from the start of decriminalisation in 1967 to the first same-sex marriages in 2014.

But now she says this important part of her identity is frequently overlooked due to her age.

She's part of England's older LGBTQ+ community, which a new report suggests often experiences poorer health, more limited finances and greater social isolation than the wider older population.

The report, from the Centre for Ageing Better, says without specialist support, this growing demographic could be forced "back into the closet" when accessing care, warning they may even delay getting the care they need because of concerns about homophobia.

Adam Preston, a housing development manager from the LGBT Foundation charity, says he regularly meets older members of the community in exactly that situation.

"It's very common for people to hide things if they have a carer visiting their home, for example hiding their wedding photos or taking down a trans flag," he says.

"In the case of someone moving into a care environment, that means hiding who they are in their own home, for what could be the rest of their life."

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