CCGG Presents: Visibility and Voice

We had a fantastic CCGG Presents this month. Thank you to our presenters: Bill Sive (Gay Elder Circle), Cathy Perry & Tandy Bowman (Servant Hearts), and Michael McFadden (LA LGBT Center). We learned so much about the needs of older adults in the LGBTQ community here in California.

Bill Sive shared some really interesting viewpoints about assumptions those working with older adults may have about their support system. Doctors, gerontologists, social workers, or other support providers may assume all older adults have a spouse and/or adult children to support them. However, for some older adults from the LGBTQ community, this may not be the case, and in fact, some older adults find themselves estranged from even their adult siblings, etc. Thanks for reminding us to consider those assumptions when working with older adults! You can find out more about Gay Elder Circle here: http://gayeldercircle.org/

Cathy and Tandy shared some really interesting perspectives about how they listened to the older adults they are working with in northern CA to work to meet their needs. When the older adults they worked with expressed their preference for in-person meet-ups again post-COVID, Cathy and Tandy found ways to get back to in-person gatherings at parks with picnics and drum circles, while taking into account transportation, safety, and meeting during the daytime to continue to meet the preferences of the older adults in their area. You can find out more about their work at: https://www.servant-hearts.org/

Michael shared all about the incredible offerings of the LA LGBT Center, from housing and food insecurity to laundry and community conversation... this center has it covered. During his presentation, we learned how the LGBT Center works to collect preferences from the older adults in the LA area using surveys. The older adults at the center shared their desire for nightlife activities and having options for meeting others via online platforms as well. Learn more at: https://lalgbtcenter.org/

We also collected a wide range of resources that may be beneficial for anyone to learn more about the experiences of older adults in the LGBTQ community.

• A Place Live - https://youtu.be/5m6wdM0Ja6U?si=Ks056RrsFkoGiMLh

• Aging With Pride - https://youtu.be/tOXU3-cCNRc?si=zJbRxO9p3mNvx9a_

• American Male - https://youtu.be/zJ-Pyhk7GQA?si=Vw8xSK3PUYDIyLfD

• Before You Know It - Before You Know It (2013) - IMDb

• Desert Migration - Desert Migration (2015) - IMDb  (AIDS Related)

• Gen Silent- Gen Silent (2011) - IMDb

• Inclusive Care at the End of Life:  The LGBTQ+ Experience - https://youtu.be/o1YZL6zuD8I?si=MtbRghkNAS_qQnQZ

• LGBT Seniors Get the Prom of Their Dreams  https://youtu.be/rFBv6Mc77Ys?si=pks2Hnh1DO2SUNp9

• LGBT Seniors Tell Their Stories - https://youtu.be/JDOdv792rBA?si=A2JrhsZzCh1_xLTB

• Living in Pryde - https://youtu.be/4MHHRSNBepI?si=fZLEPxZsQ-vOukyY

• Not Another Second - https://youtu.be/q43kBuC_ups?si=PBHsQt5qrxWshe3Q

• Older Than What? - https://vimeo.com/296658439?share=copy

• Out Late - Out Late (2008) - IMDb

• Ten More Good Years - Ten More Good Years (2007) - IMDb

• We Need to Talk About the Queer Elder Crisis - https://youtu.be/pUdH4J9sF8I?si=wxiFa30wZJ2jB4MF

• Grey Rainbow:  LGBT Patients & Aging Parts I and II (American Medical Association)

  • Part I - https://youtu.be/MhkYurwzEKU?si=UgllJfI3gXa31IMr

  • Part II - https://youtu.be/1iqb8PcdHxA?si=x0_5Mega9B-TQ4_n