Being homosexual has not always been (and still is not) easy. Older generations, who grew up in an era when sexuality was considered taboo, did not see relief in their lives. However, now, in Barcelona, Spain, they can find a safe place to spend their final days without fear of accepting their identity.
This idea belongs to Maite Frías, the director of nursing homes for the elderly in this Spanish city. She realized that some of her residents could not fully express their identity and returned to the 'closet' at the end of their lives, from which they managed to emerge.
Based on this, the woman decided to transform her center into a model of respect for LGBTQ+ rights among the elderly. For this initiative, she received recognition this week, according to the publication El Periódico.
In these nursing homes for the elderly, many who never felt integrated can now find a place where they are accepted as they are.
Many of these men and women were participants in the first movements fighting for LGBTQ+ rights decades ago, as Telecinco reminds us. The nursing home managers emphasize the importance of recognizing their struggle and ensuring a dignified old age, saying: '50 years ago, these people were part of the first movements that paved the way for rights in a society where they did not exist.'
Carmen, 89, is one of the residents of this place. The former nurse asks: 'I am a woman who loves women; is it that difficult to understand?'
To create an atmosphere of communication and respect, the nursing home staff undergoes special training on diversity and inclusivity issues. The goal is that no resident is forced to hide their identity again upon entering the nursing home.