The health profile of lesbians over 50 is paradoxical: they report higher psychological distress but also higher levels of physical activity and lower rates of substance use than heterosexual peers of the same age.
Perhaps the most concrete challenge is financial. Lesbians over 50 have faced a lifetime of wage discrimination (the “lesbian pay gap” is steeper than the general gender pay gap), lack of spousal benefits prior to Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), and caregiving responsibilities that interrupted careers. mature lesbians over 50
refers to the fact that while many lesbians have strong friend networks, these friends have no legal standing in hospitals or end-of-life decisions without extensive legal paperwork. Unlike a heterosexual wife who is automatically next-of-kin, a lesbian partner must produce a stack of advance directives. The health profile of lesbians over 50 is