Groupe: personnes trans*

Recent Australian legislative and policy changes can benefit people of trans and/or non-binary experience (e.g. men assigned female with stereotypically {‘}female{’} bodies, women assigned male with ster…

Literature on the topic of trans older adults has documented a few anecdotal cases in which some trans people living with dementia forgot they transitioned and reidentified with their sex assigned at birth ({\textquotedblleft}detransition{\textquotedblright}). Trans commu- nities and their allies have encouraged trans people to engage in end-of-life planning, including the preparation of legal documents that state their wishes regarding gender identity and expression in the event of {\textquotedblleft}incapacity{\textquotedblright} caused by dementia. While useful, we contend that end-of-life planning is often implicitly based on cisnormative and cognonormative (normative system based on cog- nitive abilities) assumptions. Such planning is founded on a stable notion of gender identity throughout the life course ({\textquotedblleft}post-transition{\textquotedblright}) and assumes that the pre-dementia self is better equipped to make decisions than the {\textquotedblleft}demented{\textquotedblright} self. We conclude by encouraging, based on an intersectional, trans-affirmative, crip-positive, and age-positive approach, respect for the agency of trans people with dementia.

There is little research at the international level to help us understand the experiences and needs of trans people living with dementia, despite population aging and the grow- ing numbers of trans people including the first cohort of trans older adults. There is a need to understand the widespread barriers, discrimination and mistreatment faced by trans people in the health and social service system, and the fears trans people express about aging and dementia. Anecdotal evidence from the scarce literature on the topic of LGBTQ populations and dementia suggest that cognitive changes can impact on gender identity. For example, trans older adults with dementia may forget they transitioned and reidentify with their sex/gender assigned at birth or may experience {‘}gender confusion.{’} This raises crucial questions, for example regarding practices related to pronouns, care to the body (shaving, hair, clothes, etc.), social gendered interactions, health care (con- tinuing or not hormonal therapy) and so on. This article fills a gap in current literature by offering a first typology of responses offered by academics who analyzed the topic of dementia and gender identity, to trans older adults with dementia who may be experi- encing {‘}gender confusion,{’} namely: (1) a gender neutralization approach; (2) a transaf- firmative stable approach; and (3) a trans-affirmative fluid approach. After providing critical reflections regarding each approach, we articulate the foundations of a fourth paradigm, rooted in an interdisciplinary dialogue regarding the interlocking systems of oppression faced by trans older adults with dementia, namely ageism, ableism/sanism, and cisgenderism.

Concepts of time are ubiquitous in studies of aging. This article integrates an existential perspective on time with a notion of queer time based on the experiences of older transgender per- sons who contemplate or pursue a gender transition in later life. Interviews were conducted with male-to-female identified persons aged 50 years or older (N = 22), along with participant obser- vation at three national transgender conferences (N = 170 hr). Interpretive analyses suggest that an awareness of {\textquotedblleft}time left to live{\textquotedblright} and a feeling of {\textquotedblleft}time served{\textquotedblright} play a significant role in later life development and help expand gerontological perspectives on time and queer aging.

Objectives: In order to bolster gerontology{’}s knowledge base about transgender issues and advance conceptualizations of agency and social forces in life course scholarship, this study explores the conditions under which people contemplate or pursue a gender transition in later life. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with male-to-female identified persons (N = 22) who have seriously contem- plated or pursued a gender transition after the age of 50 years. Participant observation was also carried out at three national transgender conferences (N = 170 hours). Interpretive analyses utilized open and focused coding, analytical memo writing, and an iterative process of theory development. Results: Participants in this study faced unrelenting social pressures to conform to normative gender expectations through- out their lives, which were often internalized and experienced as part of themselves. Confronting these internalized forces often took the form of a {\textquotedblleft}dam bursting,{\textquotedblright} an intense emotional process through which participants asserted agency in the face of constraining social forces in order to pursue a gender transition in later life. Discussion: Thefindingsinthispaperareusedtoextendthelifecourseconceptofagencywithinstructure,whichhasimplica- tions for future life course research in aging, especially with respect to socially marginalized and oppressed minority groups.

Les a{\^\i}né-es trans sont une population en devenir constituée d{’}individus aux identités, réalités et trajectoires très diversifiées. Cet article basé sur une recension des écrits, présente tout d{’}abord cette diversité, notamment en ce qui a trait à l{’}âge, tant à l{’}appartenance générationnelle qu{’}à l{’}âge du début de la transition. On y traite ensuite de la santé physique des a{\^\i}né-es trans, soit des problèmes et des besoins de santé qui leur sont propres, puis des barrières auxquelles ils et elles se heurtent dans leurs démarches pour avoir accès à des soins et des services de santé adéquats. Le~texte relève certaines difficultés comme l{’}isolement et le manque de soutien qui sont souvent le lot des a{\^\i}nés trans ainsi que les obstacles dans leur accès aux services sociaux et aux soins liés au vieillissement. L{’}article propose des pistes d{’}action pour les personnes professionnelles dans le domaine de la santé et des services sociaux et se conclut sur des pistes de recherche.

Background. Medical gender-affirming interventions (GAI) are important in the transition process of many trans persons. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between GAI and quality of life (QoL) of transitioned trans individuals. Methods. 143 trans persons were recruited from a multicenter outpatient Swiss population as well as a web-based survey. The QoL was assessed using the Short Form (36) Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were examined using the Short Form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (ADS-K). Multiple interferential analyses and a regression analysis were performed. Results. Both transfeminine and transmasculine individuals reported a lower QoL compared to the general population. Within the trans group, nonbinary individuals showed the lowest QoL scores and significantly more depressive symptoms. A detailed analysis identified sociodemographic and transition-specific influencing factors. Conclusions. Medical GAI are associated with better mental wellbeing but even after successful medical transition, trans people remain a population at risk for low QoL and mental health, and the nonbinary group shows the greatest vulnerability.

Despite sensationalized media attention, transgender individuals are the most marginalized and misunderstood group in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The current article presents a case study of one woman{’}s quest for identity. Narrative inquiry was used to ana- lyze data from interview transcripts and four themes emerged during analysis: (a) naming the ambiguity, (b) revealing{–} concealing the authentic self, (c) discovering the transgender community, and (d) embracing the {\textquotedblleft}T{\textquotedblright} identity. Lifespan and empowerment theories were used to harvest meanings from these themes. Implications for nursing practice and research were examined based on study findings. Participatory ac- tion research offers an approach for future studies in which researchers advocate for transgender individuals and remove obstacles to their health care access

While research on the health and wellbeing of older lesbian, gay and bisexual adults is grad- ually expanding, research on older trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) adults lags behind. Current scholarship about this group raises important questions about the intersec- tion of ageing and gender identity for enhancing care and support for older TGNC adults and the lack of preparedness of health and social professionals for meeting these needs. In this paper, we examine the accounts of 22 TGNC individuals (50{–}74 years) on the topic of ageing and unpack their concerns for and expectations of later life. We present qualitative findings from a study of gender identity, ageing and care, based in Wales, United Kingdom. Data were generated from two-part interviews with each participant. Four key themes are identified: (a) facilitative factors for transitioning in mid- to later life; (b) growing older as a new lease of life; (c) growing older: regrets, delays and uncertainties; and (d) ambivalent expectations of social care services. We argue that growing older as TGNC can be experi- enced across a multitude of standpoints, ranging from a new lease of life to a time of regret and uncertainty. We critically discuss emergent notions of trans time, precarity and uncer- tainty running across participants{’} accounts, and the implications for enhancing recognition of gender non-conformity and gender identity in social gerontology.