I was at the club a couple of months back, when a drunken younger guy bumped into me. He looked back in his stupor, kindly tapped my shoulder and said, "Excuse me sir." I almost screamed. Not because he ruined my fresh white sneakers, but because at age 29 I was considered a "sir." At what age do we become "older" gays. As time passes, it seems as if the young-old age threshold continues to decrease. To my dismay, what I consider "older" is a few decades beyond what the younger generations today consider mature. Could this be the reason why so many gay men chase the fountain of youth? Are the older gay generations out of touch with the younger generations? And will the generation gap ever be closed?A late 2005 study by the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies confirms what many gay adults and young adults already feel-- the younger generations don't understand older gays and older gays don't understand the younger ones. Ironically, the number of years that divide "younger" from "older" gays can be as little as five years. Dr. Glenda Russell, co-author of the widely reported study, makes these major points:
- LGBT adults tend to project their own experiences onto today's young people, when in fact the lives of today's young people are often quite different.
- Adults tend to focus on the suffering and isolation of LGBT youth, even though many LGBT teens are actually doing well.
- Young LGBT people sometimes complain that no one is doing anything about discrimination, apparently unaware of decades of prior activism by LGBT adults.
- Young people often provide a fresh perspective on issues that is both less constrained by past strategies for problem solving and less reliant on older-and perhaps incorrect-assumptions about the degree of homophobia.
- Adults have greater experience and resources and are more familiar with the historical roots of the LGBT movement.
Opinion Poll:
What are your feelings about the gay generation gap? Vote below then comment.
Older gays tend to over-protect younger gays True | False (results)
Younger gays don't appreciate previous activism efforts True | False (results)
Younger gays can protect themselves True | False (results)
Older gays have greater experience and resources True | False (results)
Younger gays provide a fresh perspective on LGBT rights True | False (results)
Older gays are positive mentors for younger gays True | False (results)
The Report:
Read the Gay Generation Gap Report by the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies.
Resources:
Image courtesy of Philip Jackson.
I would be interested in seeing how the responses to the opinon poll on the age gap stack up when analyzsised by age. In other words are percentages higher or lower on certain responses depending on the age of the responded.
I qualify as a older gay, no matter how you divide it at 53, I suspect. And in many ways I think the older generation is not the best example and that the younger people have things better. Of course part of that is due to my personal history.
The would appear to be much debate about being gay and over 20 and at times it is just so much misinformation.The mature gay male is to some younger gay males an attraction, to these younger men age is no barrier.
Then there are those mature gay males that enjoy the presence and company of younger gay men. The internet has made a small dint in the ageism heresy. Hell, who over 30 does not enjoy being cruised by a younger guy. I am certain if you were to ask honest younger gay males they also would agree about being cruised by an older gay guy.
We can learn from them and they can learn from us; just remember the best meal is cooked in an old wok.
This reminds me of the episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show where the 30-year-old Mary gets distressed over being called “ma’am.” It’s no big deal that an 18-year-old would consider a 29-year-old much older. I was reading an thread on IMDb about a 31-year-old actor dating an 18 year old and being called a pedophile. Someone mentioned that if both were 10 years older, it wouldn’t be a big deal. 10 years older at 18 is a major gap.
LOL ….scary that i’m with the majority 5 for 5….i could only answer for myself and my memories….do younger gays “appreciate previous activism efforts” ? Nope, but it wasn’t until years of activism that i began to appreciate The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Billitis.
At 60 i don’t mind being called Sir…..it’s a pleasant change from the straight kids in my neighborhood.
Frankly i’m really proud of this GLBTQ young folks
Speaking as a very young gay, I don’t think we really appreciate all the things the older generation has done for us. I asked a few of my gay friends last year about the Stonewall riots, and half of them didn’t even know what they were.
In regrds to doing nothing against descrimination: Come on, young people. The Civil Rights movement might be taught in a day, but it definitely didn’t happen in a day. These things are sensitive and take time.
I whole-heartedly agree that older gays had it differently than younger gays. Times change, as do attitudes of the public. Projecting an older gay’s experiences and feelings into a younger gay’s is not the best way to handle things.
Younger gays providing a fresh perspective? Maybe. Or can bashing drag queens, bisexuals, and discriminating against straights be called a new perspective? Calling these people fake, stupid, needy, etc. is not the best way to promote equality. Drag queens laid a lot of foundation for the rights we have now–show some respect. They’re expressing themselves, just like you are. It doesn’t make them any less of a person. We should be THANKING the flaming queens and bitchy dykes of yesteryear.