Substantial achievements in legislative and human rights within many states in Europe and the increasing visibility of LGBT older people have certainly softened attitudes and promoted their recognition.
Despite these adversities, LGBT older people have shown remarkable resilience and strengths which can be harnessed when engaging in discourses of active ageing (Hash & Rogers, 2013 Vella, 2013). The research evidence demonstrates that the intersection of multiple identities in LGBT ageing are combined with risk factors which include significant health disparities, heightened exposure to discrimination and victimisation and the fear of and potential challenges in accessing culturally responsive environments (Higgins et al., 2011 Hafford-Letchfield et al., 2018). As a result of historical, social and cultural contexts the ageing LGBT community have, until relatively recently, tended to be wholly invisible in gerontological and geriatric research (Giunta & Rowan, 2015 Harley & Teaster, 2016). There is a growing area of empirical evidence that highlights the unique perspectives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older people. This chapter illuminates the experiences of gay men living in Malta who are a marginalised community within the ageing population.
