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.

[scripter]

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

That would make it a choice.

[scripter]

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[rockfish59]

Why not become wallaby's?

[scripter]

Hey, if they can become lesbians they can become straight. Whoops.

[GrandMoM]

That would make it a choice.....cold day in HELL!

[Bonaparte]

"That would make it a choice."

That's right! Let's give 'em a slogan for their "voluntary lesbianism" campaign. How about...

A Choice Not A Chromo!

[scripter]

I'm very glad to hear it, GrandMom! :-) I'm outta here for the night.

[I got the rope]

Just when I thought the world could not possibly get anymore shameful...my oh my....sickening.

Australian government funded anarchy....absolutely amazing.

[I got the rope]

Just when I thought the world could not possibly get anymore shameful...my oh my....sickening.

Australian government funded anarchy....absolutely amazing.

[auntdot]

Better start building more Episcopalian churches down under.

[beaversmom]

Born again lesbianism

[xm177e2]

That would make it a choice.

Gay men are the ones who usually say it's biological/not a choice.

Lesbians are actually much more likely to support of the idea of "choice."

[bd476]

Hmmm, Phyllis would not be pleased, and well, uhm, I hear an echo... wait that's AuH2O stirring...

[buccaneer81]

Just when I thought the world could not possibly get anymore shameful...my oh my....sickening.

Well, I've got news for you. Most heterosexual men find nothing wrong with lesbianism as long as the females are reasonably attractive. Unfotunately, most dykes look like old dykes.

[joanil]

Yep. And give them a 'roo' pouch in which to place their fancy.

[oceanperch]

Can't keep sex out of it can they.

The idea isn't ever going to go over with us Conservative Catholics.
(I think I can speak for others)
Nothing wrong having companions but not going to cozy up with any of them.
One thing I enjoy about getting older is the freedom of being single and personally sex isn't a priority.

I do however enjoy men as eye candy. And not wrinkled over the hill ones.

Lonely get a pet.

[LPStar]

This woman has a lot of nerve to imply that older women who are roommates are likely having a same-sex relationship. There are many good reasons for an older woman to have a roommate, such as greater financial and personal security.

[TigersEye]

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

Yep. The lesbian herself says it is a choice. Apparently the government is recruiting for them down under too.

[Aeronaut]

[TigersEye]

It's not just nerve it is a deliberate attempt to blur the truth. The more this is publicized the more young people with skulls full of mush will believe that every pair or group of older women living together are lesbeans. It helps their agenda by making it seem like there are more of them and it fractionalizes society more.