Older women urged to become lesbians

The Mercury.au ^ | 10aug03 | Nikki Voss and Nicole Cox

[scripter]

AUSTRALIA'S leading relationship counselling body is urging lonely older single women to become lesbians.

Relationships Australia spokesman Jack Carney said men's shorter life spans, and their pursuit of much younger women, meant women in their twilight years were often forced to turn to other women for love and companionship.

Mr Carney said the government-funded support group encouraged older women to explore lesbian relationships, which were seen as more nurturing and emotionally supportive.

Older women were even pooling their resources to buy property and making pacts to form couples if they did not find a male partner by a certain age, he said.

"As they get over 60, opportunities to get a man diminish substantially. Men marry younger women and they die about eight years younger, so there is a real male shortage," Mr Carney said.

"And as women get even older it gets much worse, so we ask them to entertain the idea of lesbian relationships."

Australian Pensioner and Superannuants League secretary Yvonne Zardini said she was aware of more women moving in together in old age.

"You notice it more where women are sharing houses, but I never ask exactly what the nature of their arrangements are, but it wouldn't surprise me (if they were in same-sex relationships). Loneliness can be a terrible thing when you are older," she said.

Myra Flynn, from support group Older Dykes, said some older women "defaulted" to lesbian relationships because of a lack of men.

Others had struck up relationships with men in the 1950s and 60s only because they could not be open about their sexuality, or they wanted a child.

"It's becoming more common and I've noticed a growing trend in bisexuality," she said.

The Matrix Guild, a Victorian support group for lesbian women aged over 40, refused to comment on the Relationships Australia advice.

Census 2001 statistics show older members of society are adopting the divorce trend and are leaving life-long partners, some even in their 80s.

Mr Carney said that despite the encouragement for women to "explore other options", married and miserable was still better than alone and free, unless there was abuse.

"The best thing you can do is stay married if you want to live longer," Mr Carney said.

"When I talk to other counsellors, they are seeing many more older people coming in, but we try to tell them to stick with it. Divorce is like amputation."

Founded in 1948 as the Marriage Guidance Council, Relationships Australia is a non-profit counselling organisation funded by both the Federal and State Governments.

In response to the pensioner stampede to the divorce courts, Relationships Australia has launched two courses on how to start again in relationships in old age.

[oceanperch]

Just one more type of friendship to pervert.

Plain stupid.

[Arrowhead1952]

Seeing her pic would make any lesbian want to go straight. UGLY MUGSHOT!!

[Caipirabob]

[verity]

...support group Older Dykes

And the athletic support group Older Dykes on Bikes. :~)

[Sacajaweau]

Ah, the secret is out. GAYS SOLICIT!!!!!!!

Why does a female/female relationship have to TURN sexual "TO BE"???

These folks are screwed up in their heads and this is a good showing of it.

[Grampa Dave]

ODOT

Not the Oregon Department of Transportation, but Older Dykes on Trykes!

[Grampa Dave]

Around the world and down under, the predator homosexuals never miss an opportunity to recruit from the crib to the nursing home.

[independentmind]

Believe it or not, I actually had someone say something to me like this recently. She accused me of having a "victim mentality" and asked me if it wouldn't be better to be involved with another woman than to remain single. I was absolutely floored.

[Tijeras_Slim]

And the Aged Dyke Ballroom Dancing Club the Waltzing Matildas.

[Grampa Dave]

This would be hard to put on a bumper sticker or on the back of a wheel chair.

Aged Dyke Ballroom Dancing Club the Waltzing Matildas!

[af_vet_1981]

That would make it a choice.

It's not just a choice, it's a religion.

It's a war for the hearts and minds. Kids use it like they used to use drugs.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Its still better than All Your Old Dykes Are Belong to Us.

[The Iguana]

The idea isn't ever going to go over with us Conservative Catholics.
(I think I can speak for others)

You can indeed, sir!

I second your suggestion on pets. You can't find a more loyal companion than a dog.

[rintense]

This is just incredible. I know of several women over 60 who end up sharing a home or apartment because, A: their husbands have passed away, B: it saves them money, C: provides them companionship. Surely this idiot isn't suggestion that women who live together for these reasons *must* be lesbians? What about younger women who share an apartment, etc. Talk about an article that is riddled with gay agenda inconsistency... Believe it or not, women *can* live together and NOT be lesbians. Sheesh. Seems to me the lesbian definition is becoming more and more broad.

[Grampa Dave]

A fellow that I know had an uncle who moved to one of the Sun City, Arizona Retirement Homes after his wife died a few years ago.

This uncle was a very handsome WWII pilot, whose wife became sexless the last years of her life.

The old guy went on Viagra to satisfy all of the horney women at the home. He died a few months ago with a big smile on his face.

[Spok]

Now I'm confused...I thought the government was supposed to be OUT of the bedroom. Let me get this straight-it's okay so long as it's promoting perverted conduct, but not okay if it's trying to prohibit it?

[ImpBill]

" Older women urged to become lesbians "

I wish I didn't have such a vivid image of this.

Oh isch!

[independentmind]

The old guy went on Viagra to satisfy all of the horney women at the home. He died a few months ago with a big smile on his face.

My mother was recently widowed and I can tell you that she is absolutely revolted by the kind of man you have described. And it also seems that kind of man often favors women who have plenty of assets left to them by their deceased husbands. Disgusting, all around, and unbefitting to be discussed on a conservative website.

[EdReform]

"That would make it a choice."

Agreed. The many ex-homosexuals are proof that it's a choice. (See madg, it IS a choice).

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH)

Choice4Truth

[EdReform]

"Around the world and down under, the predator homosexuals never miss an opportunity to recruit from the crib to the nursing home."

So true!