Religion, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Older Age Care Contexts

This report describes the key themes and ideas, which were discussed at a collaborative consultation event held at York Law School, University of York, on 7th July 2022. The event followed on from a pilot research project, funded by C & JB Morrell Trust, which explored the issues associated with religion, sexual orientation and gender identity in older age care, and, more specifically, the delivery of care to older LGBTQ people by religious providers.1 That project had identified that many older LGBTQ people are very anxious and concerned about receiving care from religious organisations and/or staff in later life, fearing religiousbased prejudice and discrimination during times when they are at their most vulnerable.2 A review of the international and national literature as part of that project highlighted that healthcare, social care and social work students and practitioners with strongly held religious beliefs, especially highly religious individuals aligned with conservative arms of the main world religions, are more likely to hold negative attitudes about LGBTQ people.3 However, there is a vast knowledge gap about whether and how those attitudes inform practice, although there are accounts of it sometimes doing so.4 The purpose of the event reported here was to start a conversation about these issues, promote future dialogue, and embed a future research grant application in the views of key stakeholders.