LGBTQ+ elders are twice as likely to be single and live alone and four times less likely to have children. Because of this, LGBTQ+ elders likely have a “chosen” family, a network of individuals like themselves that are also in the same circumstance as themselves. As a group, LGBTQ+ older adults experience unique economic and health disparities. Many are disproportionately affected by poverty and physical and mental health conditions due to a lifetime of unique stressors associated with being a minority, and may be more vulnerable to neglect and mistreatment in aging care facilities.
Because of these disparities and inequalities, organizations like SAGE USA are vital to the health and wellness of LGBTQ+ elders. This Pride month, Good Clean Love is giving back a percentage of sales during 6/6 - 6/12 to support SAGE USA’s mission.
WHAT IS SAGE'S MISSION?
SAGE USA is a national advocacy and services organization that’s been looking out for LGBTQ+ elders since 1978. They build welcoming communities and keep our issues in the national conversation to ensure a fulfilling future for all LGBTQ+ people.
SAGE leads in addressing issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning and other self-identifying members of the community (LGBTQ+) aging. In partnership with its constituents and allies, SAGE works to achieve a high quality of life for LGBTQ+ older people, supports and advocates for their rights, fosters a greater understanding of aging in all communities, and promotes positive images of LGBTQ+ life in later years.
LGBTQ+ OLDER VOICES COME FIRST:
SAGE is grounded in the spirit of "nothing about us without us."They listen respectfully to the full breadth of voices of LGBTQ+ older people.
DIVERSITY AND EQUITY:
SAGE operates at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and aging experiences. Their work ensures that all LGBTQ+ older people have just and fair access to the opportunities they deserve and are free from ageism
COLLABORATIVE TEAMWORK AND PARTNERSHIP:
SAGE is a learning organization rooted in community. They value collaborative teamwork internally and partnership externally. They place a premium on robust communication, and on listening to and learning from each other.
RESPECT AND COMPASSION:
SAGE values and fosters dignity, caring, and service for LGBTQ+ elders.
INNOVATION:
SAGE is committed to transformative change for LGBTQ+ older people. As such, they value courageous creativity, openness, thoughtful risk-taking and flexibility.
SAGE seeks to positively impact all LGBTQ+ older people. Their work is data-driven, disciplined, and responsive to change.
WHAT SAGE DOES:
At SAGE USA, there are several programs that help to support LGBTQ+ elders:
Advocating with and on behalf of our community SAGE stands proudly with the LGBTQ+ pioneers across the country who’ve been fighting for decades for their right to live with dignity and respect.
They work with the current administration and key staff in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, plus our nationwide network of affiliates, to advocate for LGBTQ+ older people at the federal, state, and local levels. We:
● Mobilize LGBTQ+ people and allies when our rights are at stake
● Educate policy makers about LGBTQ+ aging issues
● Release original policy briefs, publications, and infographics
● Lead coalitions that integrate diverse elders into policy conversations
● March and rally with LGBTQ+ older people and our allies
The Center of Excellence is meant to harness the full depth of these learnings to inform our own work and improve the field of LGBTQ+ aging across the world.
Goals:
● Support LGBTQ+ elder visibility by increasing participation in all mainstream research
● Build the body of research directly focused on LGBTQ+ aging through partnerships, funding, and the commission of studies
● Support equity in the field by transferring resources, information, decision-making, and access to research and learning in historically marginalized communities
● Promote visibility and inclusion by advocating for the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data wherever possible
● SAGE’s Center of Excellence is committed to improving the understanding of LGBTQ+ aging and the intersectionality, resiliencies, and unique challenges of aging as an LGBTQ+ person
National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative
One of the most significant concerns for LGBTQ+ elders is safe, affordable housing. According to an Equal Rights Center report, 48% of older same-sex couples applying for elder housing were subjected to discrimination. Discrimination puts LGBTQ+ elders at greater risk for chronic health problems, social isolation, poverty, and premature mortality.
With the National LGBTQ+ Elder Housing Initiative, the following challenges are being addressed:
● Training eldercare providers to be LGBTQ+ culturally competent
● Advocating for policies that ensure LGBTQ+ elders across the country can access welcoming housing
● Educating you about your housing rights
● Helping builders across the U.S. replicate LGBTQ+-friendly housing
● Building LGBTQ+-friendly housing in New York City
National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging
By 2030, there are going to be 7 million LGBTQ+ older adults 65 or older. As numbers grow, it's important to ensure that the community is supported in every way possible—through training, technical assistance, and educational resources.
Knowledge is power, and the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging is the information powerhouse. Publications, fact sheets, guides, and assistance are given on nearly a thousand topics relevant to LGBTQ+ aging, including:
● Caregiving
● LGBTQ+ inclusion and cultural competency
● Elder abuse and neglect
● Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid
● Health care
● Financial security and retirement
● Housing
● HIV/AIDS
Other SAGE programs that support LGBTQ+ elders: SAGECare, SAGECents, SAGEConnect, SAGECollab, SAGE x Hear Me, SAGE Table and SAGE Collab.
Ways to Get Involved
Become an LGBTQ+ Elder Ambassador
Sources:
1. SAGE USA https://www.sageusa.org/
2. Age Ways Org https://www.ageways.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Information-on-LGBT-Older-Adult-Population.pdf
3. APA - American Psychological Organization https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/aging
4. SAGE USA Core Values https://www.sageusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SAGE-Mission-Core-Values-2022.pdf
5. SAGE USA Advocacy https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/advocacy-for-lgbt-elders/
6. SAGE USA National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/national-lgbt-housing-initiative-2/
7. SAGE USA National Resource for Aging https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/national-resource-center-on-lgbt-aging/
8. SAGE USA PROGRAMS https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/
