"The Truth About About Being Gay And Dying..."

Grieving Gay People Facing Bigotry At Funerals
Family members and religious leaders were the most likely to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual people, according to the study

Joe Morgan
July 17, 2014

Grieving gay people are facing discrimination at funerals.

A shocking number of gay people face bigotry at funerals, new research has revealed.

YouGov polling has discovered one in 10 lesbian, gay and bisexual people have experienced discrimination when saying goodbye to a loved one.

Family members and religious leaders were the most likely to discriminate against gay, lesbian and bisexual people, according to the study.

There are many fears as well that comes with getting older, with nearly half (48%) believing they could face bigotry when they deal with bereavement.

Almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed also expect to be treated poorly by a funeral director.

Ruth Hunt, Acting Chief Executive of Stonewall, said: ‘Many older lesbian, gay and bisexual people grew up in a time when they were discriminated against and persecuted simply because of who they are.

‘It’s therefore hardly surprising that so many feel reluctant to access services to help them plan for later life.

‘At Stonewall we know that we stand on the shoulders of a generation whose tireless work helped to change Britain and the world for the better.

‘We now have a responsibility to make sure that they receive the help and support they deserve for themselves and their families. That is why we’re working with community groups and faith organisations to help make this a reality.’

A guide for LGB people on planning for later life, such as funeral planning and making a will, has been developed by Stonewall and The Co-operative Funeralcare. Read it here.

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No surprise here... working in the death care industry, I've witnessed this first-hand.  I often tried in subtle ways to influence things to help the often helpless grieving partners who found themselves at the mercy of hateful families who had no respect for their often lifelong relationships.

I have to admit, I thought about this a great deal this week, while my husband was in the hospital. Thankfully, he is home now and doing much better.  But this brush with serious illness has awakened me to the need for us to put our own death care plans in place to ensure that our final wishes will be respected.

"Fear Eats the Soul"