Educate yourself with Pallas Care’s free webinars about the History of and Language in the LGBTQ+ Community! Register at bit.ly/pallaspride
June is celebrated as LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) Pride Month in the United States. June was chosen as it is the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn Uprising that launched the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride month is usually commemorated with parades and festivals where LGBTQ+ have the chance to express themselves authentically and openly–a privilege that until very recently, was denied to most if not all of our community. Even though we’ve come a long way in the last 55 years, the legacy of the past still has negative effects on today’s LGBTQ+ seniors; not to mention discrimination or fear of abuse that keeps many LGBTQ+ elders from accessing services designed for the general population, who are assumed to be straight and cisgender.
The senior citizens of 2024 were all born before Stonewall; many would have already been adults or just coming of age at that time. These adults lived through decades when being openly (or perceived to be) gay or queer could get you fired from your job, land you in jail or a mental hospital, and even lead to your death. This history of oppression results in a well-documented phenomenon called “cumulative disadvantage,” which leads to disparities even after the oppressions and stigmas have been removed. Here are some examples of challenges that LGBTQ+ elders face in 2024 (via SAGE/The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging):
-They are two times more likely to live alone compared to the general population, and 4 times less likely to have children. Social isolation has negative health effects that are often compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
-Just over half reported experiencing discrimination in employment or housing. Employment discrimination results in lower lifetime earnings, which negatively impacts Social Security income, pensions, and retirement savings.
-Nearly half of same-sex couples in one study reported encountering discrimination when seeking senior housing.
However, there is good news: According to a study by SAGE/The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, 88% of LGBTQ+ older adults would feel comfortable accessing long term care services if they knew staff had undergone cultural competency training. If you work with older adults, take the first step by attending Pallas Care’s free webinars. RSVP at bit.ly/pallaspride
History of the LGBTQ+ Community
Wed, June 12 at Noon PT/3pm ET
Tues, June 18 at 2pm PT/5pm ET
Language in the LGBTQ+ Community
Fri, June 14 at 9am PT/Noon ET
Thurs, June 20 at Noon PT/3pm ET
These presentations were developed by SAGE/The National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging as part of their Volunteer Education Ambassador Program. For more information on SAGECare training and consulting offerings, visit https://sageusa.care/.