In-depth narrative interviews were conducted with older gays and lesbians in the Blue Mountains,
west of Sydney. Participants reflected on the meaning of their sexual identity and how they would like it to be acknowledged when in contact with health and aged-care service providers. In addition to direct discrimination, participants reported a more indirect
form of discrimination in providers’ assumption of heterosexuality among clients and their failure to provide lesbian- or gay friendly services. The findings highlight the need for health and aged-care services to better understand and acknowledge
older gay and lesbian people’s sexual identities to enable improved access to services in the future.