Social justice across the life course for LGBT+ people

Understanding the needs of individuals, and how they can improve their
quality of life is central to human development (Sen, 1999). This paper
will focus on the quality of life and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community. Despite the growing body
of research in recent years, there are gaps in the knowledge and
understanding of the issues and everyday experiences that impact on
the human development and well-being of people who identify as
LGBT+. The research cited in this paper set out to focus on the human
development and well-being of the LGBT+ community, with a focus on
Northern Ireland, where there are existing legal and social restrictions
on LGBT+ capabilities, that is to say, what an individual is able to do and
to be. To explore this, the research has adapted a framework known as
the Integrated Capabilities Framework (ICF). This study gathered data
from 40 participants. Using the adapted LGBT+ ICF questionnaire, 5 indepth interviews were conducted with LGBT+ stakeholder
representatives as well as with 35 LGBT+ community participants. This
paper will focus on the two key findings; the inequalities that impact on
LGBT+ individuals/same-sex couples in the pursuit of parenthood and
the inequalities that exist for ageing LGBTQ+ people. In terms of
becoming a parent, this paper identifies both the health inequalities and
the legal implications faced by LGBT+ people in the pursuit of
parenthood and examines the implications for policy. In terms of
ageing, this paper highlights a number of issues in relation to ageing
among LGBT+ people, including LGBT+ people going back into the closet;
lack of LGBT+ specific resources; lack of knowledge and awareness of
health and social care staff re LGBT+ identities; lack of family support
and invisibility; the legacy of criminalisation and fear of discrimination
within existing service provision. Some implications for practice include
developing support services to provide a level of care to the ageing
LGBT+ community on a par with the heterosexual community. The
provision of dedicated LGBT+ residential care homes. Mandatory LGBT+
awareness training should be developed and undertaken by health care
staff working within older care provision. Evidence informed best
practice guidelines should be produced to assist health and social care
professionals.