What can we do to show our support for our LGBTQ+ peers?

We are coming to the end of Pride month. Much has been written and broadcast about the events, parades, and need for the understanding and inclusion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBQT+) community. Most of this has been done by the younger members. I don’t recall seeing any specific information that related directly to the senior LGBTQ+ generation.

So, I was pleased when I was invited to attend a Zoom meeting, conducted by the Area Agency on Aging, (AAA) that featured speaker Anna Schlecht, the founder of Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ (SAOL), formerly known as SAGE Olympia.

Founded in 2011, this organization offers a range of services and activities to promote the wellness of the older LGBTQ community in the Thurston County area.

Anna explained some of the differences that distinguish the older LGBTQ+ community from other seniors.

For instance:

• 1/3 of the older LGBQT+ community lives below the poverty line.
• 68% have suffered verbal harassment
• 43% have been threatened with harm
• 80% of transgender people have experienced abuse.

According to SAGE USA (Services and Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Elders based in New York), the LGBTQ+ group makes up between 5 – 7 % of every state, and nationwide, there are 300,000 seniors in this classification. Many older members of the LGBTQ+ generation must rely on families of choice, consisting of ex-partners and friends, for care and support in their old age.

Anna also cited SAGE USA statistics that Older LGBTQ+ seniors are more likely to live alone and 4 times less likely to have children.

Many older members of the LGBTQ generation must rely on families of choice for care and support in their old age. 

Unequal treatment under laws and programs means their needs are not being met. Some older LGBTQ+ Many remain closeted and fearful of senior service providers. If they are cut off from family, that means they do not have the support of relatives who statistically provide nearly 90% of informal care (AARP).

Unfortunately, but in some cases of hospitalization, life -long partners are not recognized as family and are not permitted to visit or have a say in their care. “Laws change first, explained Anna.” “Social customs change usually take much longer to change.”

Judy Kiehart, author of Calico Lane, explained her experience this way:

"Coming out of the closet as a member of the LGBTQ+ community takes a lot of bravery. Those raised in the forties, fifties and sixties knew that if they expressed their sexuality, they’d be cut off from families, ridiculed, lose their jobs, and possibly imprisoned.

Many, like me, grew into adulthood, ashamed of their secret. Writing Calico Lane and sharing my coming-out journey was a huge step in accepting the person I’ve become—the person I always have been." 

Anna Schlecht on the mission of Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ ( SAOL)

“Sound Alliance of Older LGBTQ+ (SAOL) recognizes the need to offer cultural sensitivity training for senior service providers like nursing homes and hospice workers. Training helps the front line employees to become more culturally fluent to meet the needs of older LGBTQ+ folks.

"Over the years, we have teamed up with an organization's subject matter experts to develop more tailored training for their staff; this allows us to really dial in the aspects of care that are essential for older LGBTQ+ folks to feel safe.

"We often get emails asking about LGBTQ-friendly doctors and care homes, especially for Transgender elders.  The real pay-off is knowing there are service providers who will treat our community with dignity and respect."

Resources:

Some of the Sound Alliance programs (and others) can be found on its website.

• Training for in-home caregivers and/or professionals.
• National Resource Center on LGBTQ Aging is the country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Established in 2010 through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Resource Center on LGBTQ Aging provides training, technical assistance, and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBTQ older adults.

Housing:

• Service Enriched Housing
• Senior Home-Shares in which LGBTQ seniors seek safe and compatible people to share their homes and expenses along with providing some companionship, allowing them to “age in place.”

Social Events:

• LGBTQ Lunch Bunch – Olympia Senior Center 2^nd Tuesday 11:45
• LGBTQ Lunch Bunch - Lacey Virgil Clarkson Senior Center Last Tuesday 11:30
• Pints & Pool – Omalley’s Lounge in Westside Lanes 1^st Thursday 5:00 pm closed for July – next event Aug 1^st.

For more information, click here.

PFLAG:

Founded in 1973, PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ community and their families. They offer booklets, hotlines, and virtual support groups for LGBTQ+ and their families. To learn more, go to https://pflag.org/find-resources/

Timberland Libraries:

Books and magazines are available specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Using keywords like LGBTQ and transgender, will list these books. The library also offers magazines, "Out" and "The Advocate" to name a few. Find out more at  https://trl.org/

Last but not least…

What can we do to show our support for our LGBTQ+ peers? We can show some understanding of their challenges, inclusion in our everyday lives, and compassion for their struggles.

After all, we are all just walking each other home…

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.