Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Elders is an update to the groundbreaking Outing Age report issued in 2000. Like its predecessor, Outing Age 2010 presents an in-depth look at public policy issues and challenges facing millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the United States as they get older. It also includes detailed policy recommendations.

Download the Outing Age 2010 FAQs.

Download the full publication.

1. Gary Moore says:

   December 4, 2009 at 10:40 am

   Have read just the Outing Age 2010 FAQs. Sounds like something a straight bureaucrat would write. Sensitivity, awareness, smuck. Where are the real problems talked about: limited resources because of no social security sharing, being alone in a straight environment, dealing with aging in a subculture that emphasizes youth.
2. Loren A. Olson M.D. says:

   December 4, 2009 at 11:13 am

   I competely understand your frustration. I talked about it some in my interview with Maddaphobia: http://maddaphobia1.blogspot.com/search?q=olson

   Those of us who are “mature” — I hate the word “seniors” — grew up in a different era. We are the Stonewall generation, and for many in the gay community, Stonewall is only an historical event.

   And most of the heterosexual world doesn’t know we exist. We were so accustomed to “blending” and “passing” for many years, that we helped create some of this. But now there are more and more of us entering the last part of our lives.

   Unfortnately, because of both ageism and homophobia, many LGBT seniors are feeling they must re-closet themselves in order to access services for the elderly. This was the motivating force behind my decision to write my book. I don’t want to re-closet myself and give up the freedom that it too me so long and so much effort to achieve.

   But gay seniors must begin making some noise.
   One of the organizations that is doing this is SAGE and there is a link under resources. Although they are rapidly expanding their service delivery, it is still primarily an urban organization.

   I am hopeful that this site and some others can be a source for developing virtual communities. AARP now has a group called “Prisms.” I have some links to others and will link more as I find them. Loneliness is a big problem, especially for those who may have lost contact with families because of their sexual orientation. We must reach out to one another.

   Thank you for your contribution. Keep challenging the system which is neglecting our needs.
3. Loren A. Olson M.D. says:

   December 5, 2009 at 5:57 pm

   Thanks for the note, Loren. Have been out of the professional field way too long. I much appreciate your efforts to provide information to our community. The Newsweek article had a sentence that I imagine sticks in the throat of every gay man. “The average senior in the United States lives with one other person; two-thirds of LGBT seniors live alone. If you don’t have those informal support networks built into your life, then everything else becomes a bigger issue. Who forces you to go to the doctor? What happens if you fall?”

   My mother has Alzheimer’s, as did two of her siblings. I am now caring for the home, yard, cooking, doing the laundry and trying to maintain a job and a relationship, as well as a modicum of volunteer work. I have a higher percentage of facing Alzheimers… and the sentence above is scary.

   Be Well,
   Do Good Deeds,
   Keep in Touch.
   Gary Moore