Issues concerning gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) older people have been almost completely neglected in Australian gerontology. This is reflected in textual discourse, clinical and service practices, training and education, research approaches and policy development. The research presented in this thesis investigates whether lessons might be drawn from the experience of activists in the United States of America (USA) and then applied to Australian gerontology, with regard to the recognition of GLBTI issues.

As such, the research aims to provide guideposts for a process of change in Australia, by the investigation of the factors involved in collective action. This chapter will provide an overview of Australian gerontology, the heteronormativity which
currently characterises this field, the cycle of invisibility which operates in relation to GLBTI
ageing and the theoretical context which informed the research. Finally, an overview of the
structure of the thesis is presented.
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