10:52, 07 February 2023
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
London has just got its first LGBTQ+ retirement community.
Tonic Housing is the first of its kind in the UK; a queer-affirming retirement community, run by LGBTQ+ people.
According to research done by Tonic, Stonewall Housing and Opening Doors London, only 1% of LGBTQ+ Londoners over the age of 50 would consider moving to a general retirement home.
No, it’s not - and the research found that many people feel this way because they fear for their safety. While the UK has come a long way in terms of attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people, there can still be a lot of stigma, especially among older generations.
This is why places like Tonic Housing are so important to the LGBTQ+ community, so that later in life people don’t feel the need to go back into the closet.
Tonic Housing are hoping to expand beyond London in the coming years, so that LGBTQ+ people all over the country are able to retire in peace and dignity.
