In this podcast Richard talks about what it's like to be an older gay man in 2012.
Summary
In a 2012 interview, Richard Galloway, a New Zealander, shared their insights on life as an older gay individual. They recounted their personal experiences, reflecting on changes in societal attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community over the years. At 61, Galloway had recently retired and expressed a disinterest in traveling due to cumbersome airport procedures, despite an extensive history of traveling and living abroad, including a year in Thailand and five years working in air traffic control in the United Arab Emirates.
Throughout the discussion, Galloway touched on the challenges and peculiarities of being gay in countries where such orientations are not openly accepted. Remarkably, however, they stated that they had never encountered significant issues because of their sexuality, neither at home in New Zealand nor abroad.
Regarding family, Galloway was content with not having married or having children, seemingly unbothered by their family line ending with them. Their older sibling had children, augmenting a sense of family continuity. Additionally, Galloway mentioned past relationships and remained in contact with those former partners.
The conversation delved into Galloway's professional life, including the winding down of their recent art business, which endured for ten years before succumbing to financial strain. They also spoke about their involvement with OUTLine NZ, a counseling and community service for the LGBTQ+ population, from which they had just stepped down after 15 years.
Galloway held a nuanced view on the evolution of gay rights in New Zealand, noting that the legalization of homosexuality in 1986 had little direct impact on them since they never significantly struggled with their identity.
When discussing the future, Galloway mentioned involvement in a survey gauging interest in a gay men's elder community, a potential project contemplating various models such as retrofitting existing infrastructure to create supportive environments for aging gay men.
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