This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, often described as the catalyst for the modern “gay rights” movement in the U.S. Delving into the history of Stonewall can remind us of the courageous, inventive, and inspiring paths that LGBTQIA+ people have taken toward their own and others’ liberation against a backdrop of fear. Queering the lens on sex and aging allows us to view aging sexuality from a transformed perspective and propel clinicians to create environments that are welcoming, affirming, inclusive, and liberating for all sexual and gender minorities. Most research on sexuality of older LGBTQIA+ adults focus on sexual dysfunction or high-risk sexual behaviors. New research on queer bodies as a political battleground on the front lines will be covered. Highly interactive with a focus on practical applications.
Participants will be able to:
- Define three recent research findings about older LGBTQIA+ adults in sexual relationships
- Describe three challenges for treating, educating, or advocating for LGBTQIA+ adults
- Discuss one application of the recent research to your own professional work
Jane Fleishman, PhD, MS, MEd, CSE is a Certified Sexuality Educator, researcher, and writer with more than 40 years’ experience. After retiring as the Director of Medical Education and Staff Development at a large psychiatric hospital, Jane pursued her PhD and began her successful encore career in human sexuality. In her recent TEDx talk “Is it OK for Grandma to have sex?” she articulates her mission to promote the sexual well-being of older adults. Her recently published research assessing the sexual satisfaction of aging adults in same-sex relationships is available here. Dr. Fleishman’s focus on changing the ways older adults’ sexuality is perceived allows her to bring together decades of experience in organizing, educating, researching, and implementing lasting change across a wide variety of disciplines. In 2000, she received Governor’s Service Award in Healing of Racism; in 2015, a Graduate Scholar Award from the Aging and Society Knowledge Community; and in 2016, the William R. Stayton Award for Leadership in the field of human sexuality. In 2020 her book on sexuality aging will be released by Skinner House Press. Visit her website here: www.janefleishman.com.
