26 December
Foundation, which is behind Madrid scheme, says some elderly people hide
sexuality to avoid rejection by peers
theguardian.com,
Stephen Burgen in Barcelona, Monday 14 April 2014
Spain's
first old people's home for gay and lesbian pensioners is to open in a
converted hotel in Madrid.
Federico
Armenteros, president of the 26 December Foundation, which is behind the
scheme, said that as far as society was concerned "elderly LGTB don't
exist".
He said the
home would not be exclusively for gay people. "We're not going to ask you
who you sleep with when you apply," he said. "Anyone can come, the
only thing to bear in mind is that it specialises in elderly LGTBs. As it is,
there are homes for ex-servicemen, nuns or retired workers from specific
companies and no one says they are being discriminatory."
Until late
1978, gay people in Spain were classified by law as "dangerous" and
faced prison or internment in re-education centres, as well as having their
movements restricted. The foundation takes its name from the date the law was
reformed.
Boti
García, president of Spain's LGTB federation, said: "When people think of
LGTB people, they think of young people. There's a tendency, as there is in
society as a whole, to leave out the elderly."
Armenteros
said elderly people in general were not as accepting of gay and lesbian people,
and as result some went back into the closet in old age, especially if they
were in a home. "They don't have children and grandchildren they can talk
about and often they conceal their sexual orientation to avoid rejection."
The
foundation is also planning a civic centre for the same community in the
Lavapiés neighbourhood of Madrid, due to be completed within the next few
months. It will offer painting classes, physiotherapy, a classroom for the
University of the Elderly and a gym, among other things.
"Neither
the centre nor the home will be places to park old people," said
Armenteros. "We want elderly people to feel useful, that they have a good
time and feel at home." The home is due to open in 2015.
(Volkskrant/ANP) |
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