Forced back in the closet: The Life House Project exposes the harsh reality for the older LGBTQ+ community

Reports of older LGBTQ+ people forced back into the closet after entering a care home or housing for older people have been shared by participants in a project led by the University of Surrey. The Life House Project is designed to address findings from previous research at Surrey, which found that half of LBGTQ+ people have concerns about safety in their homes and neighbourhoods as they get older.

The Life House Project Film | University of Surrey

It was discovered that members of this community felt that they had to hide or conceal key parts of their identity due to fears of encountering discrimination or outright abuse. The Life House Project uses theatre to raise awareness about the issues that exist for LGBTQ+ people within the care and housing provision and offer strategies for how these settings can become more LGBTQ+ inclusive. Together with Tonic Housing, the UK's first LGBTQ+ affirmative retirement community, and the Brixton Umbrella Circle, the University has undertaken a series of interactive theatre workshops that include improvisation, scene writing, and character development. Through these activities, the team are unearthing the difficult and complex relationship that many older LGBTQ+ people have encountered within social care and housing. In doing so, the team demonstrates how theatre can be an effective tool for exploring the experiences of older adults and lobbying for change by highlighting them to wider audiences.

There is a misconception that we are living in a society free of discrimination. Unfortunately, through The Life House Project, our theatre sessions show that this is far from true. We hope to build upon this study and continue to find ways in which theatre can be used as a platform to have the voices of older LGBTQ+ people heard. Georgia Bowers, Lecturer & Course Leader Applied and Contemporary Theatre (GSA)

The research team has released a short documentary video [link] detailing its journey in developing The Life House Project. The documentary has heartwarming stories from some people who are participating in the project as they discuss how theatre can be used to raise awareness and support them to advocate around these issues. The project also shines a light on the trials faced by a community who have living memory of the criminalisation of homosexuality and endured the Aids/HIV epidemic and their fears of what prejudices may lie ahead as they begin to enter old age.

Many older LGBTQ adults worry about facing discrimination or even abuse from staff or other residents in care and housing settings. My hope is that The Life House Project will not only help people feel safe to express their fears and anxieties but also give them the confidence to tell us what they need to feel supported and respected. Professor Andrew King, Head of Sociology, Professor of Sociology