Today, gay men are coming out at younger ages. It's no longer a shock to hear of an openly gay 14-year-old or a 16-year-old in a gay relationship. Even gay bars see floods of 18-21 year old gay boys seeking love and sex from their peers, leaving older gay men on the side lines. The recent attention and broader acceptance of gay marriage has also contributed to increased pressure for gay men to find love "before it's too late" or "while they are still desirable."
Of course, this doesn't make mature gay men charity cases, it only increases the pressure as aging gay men begin to think about their futures. Some gay men also argue that other gays continue to search for the "fountain of youth" with plastic surgery, eating disorders, excessive gym hours and am obsession with body image.
According to the Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center:
- Nearly 20% of gay seniors have no one to care for them should they become ill, vs. 2% for heterosexual seniors.
- 2/3 of gay seniors live alone vs. 1/3 of heterosexual seniors.
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"Well I just would like to open a discussion about being gay, feeling ok, and aging all right. What´s the matter with that? Why do gay partners tend to look at themselves as if they were never going to get old? Why do old gay fellows accept that as something natural? Why do we have to show and keep a certain kind of body adjusted to rules that are absolutely not natural?" -Morris 47
