Bisexual Individuals Envisioning Aging Futures: Emergent Outlooks on Later Life

This study explores the future outlooks of 21 bisexual adults (aged 51–71) in the U.S. Guided by the recent calls to queer aging futures, semi-structured life-review interviews were analyzed inductively. Four future outlooks emerged, forming two contrasting but not mutually exclusive pairs: Exploratory and Settling-Down, and Affirmation and Fraught. Exploratory outlooks were marked by anticipation of fluidity in sexuality, gender, and social connections, while Settling-Down outlooks sought stability with loved ones. Affirmation-oriented outlooks expressed optimism for LGBTQ+ acceptance and supportive aging communities, while those with fraught outlooks feared aging, end-of-life challenges, and LGBTQ+ rights setbacks. These outlooks appeared shaped by past experiences, with earlier concerns, challenges, and affirmations influencing future expectations. The exploratory outlook reflects strengths of bisexual communities, such as openness, fluidity, and flexibility, offering adaptability in later life for both bisexual individuals and broader populations. These findings highlight the complexity of queering aging futures through a bisexual lens.