Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice in Twilight

In reading this article written by Jane Gross, I was quickly reminded how easy it is to forget about certain people in life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/09aged.html?ex=1192593600&en=31488165b0295b95&ei=5070&emc=eta1

I am a huge supporter of not only gay rights, but equal opportunity and when I came across this article in my email I realized I have never thought out the elderly. While reading this article my girlfriend walked in the room and asked, "What are you reading?" I told her the topic and her response was the same, "WOW! I never thought about them." This article was something that I think every person should read whether you are pro or anti gay relationships. We often forget about the older people in our society as their voice is usually not as loud. In reading this article and seeing what they have to deal with in a nursing home just to get a fair chance at making friends and enjoying themselves made me sick. To see how they live in hiding and fear because they don't want people to judge them or mock them and make fun of them makes me think of something that should happen in a middle school, not a nursing home.

The care, or lack thereof, that they receive based on their sexual preference was also disturbing. The article did; however, mention groups that are now training people how to work and help gay and lesbian patients and how to make them feel comfortable was something I thought was very encouraging. The article also mentions how some of these patients were put with people with mental disorders because they didn't know any different and would not pose a problem, really ticked me off. These people don't have mental disorders, they are just as 'normal' as any other person in the home.

Overall, the article showed a sad world these people are living in, but it did show some progress and awareness. This was honestly one of the best articles I have read in a while because it really showed a very important part to a world we live in that no one pays attention to.

Marvin