THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE: LGBT VOICES
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What is the WHCoA and Why Is it Important to LGBT People
While we live in an historic time in the advancement of civil rights, the aging network lags in meeting many of the basic needs of LGBT older adults and older adults with HIV. The upcoming White House Conference on Aging, expected to take place in July 2015, presents a unique opportunity for the White House to shine a light on both the challenges and success stories of LGBT older adults and older adults with HIV. The White House has announced the four priority areas to be covered in the conference, all of which resonate with our communities:
(1) Retirement Security
High rates of poverty; reduced retirement security; thinner family and social support networks; “families of choice” without protections, etc.
2) Healthy Aging
Lack of welcoming/affordable housing; health disparities; delaying care out of fear of discrimination; providers lack cultural competency; and little outreach, education and testing RE: HIV, etc.
(3) Long Term Services and Supports
LGBT hostility, bias and discrimination routine/legal; few aging providers trained in LGBT cultural competence; reluctance to access mainstream aging services, etc.
(4) Elder Justice
Elder abuse from friends /family and staff and residents in long-term care settings – compounded by social isolation and fear of being outed when reporting, etc.
SAGE would like to be able to communicate to the White House what LGBT/aging and HIV/aging issues people around the country care about. To that end, in the next few pages, you will have an opportunity to answer some questions. Your Mission: think about these issues through the lens of an LGBT older adult, an older adult with HIV, or someone who works with or cares for them.
(1) Retirement Security
High rates of poverty; reduced retirement security; thinner family and social support networks; “families of choice” without protections, etc.
2) Healthy Aging
Lack of welcoming/affordable housing; health disparities; delaying care out of fear of discrimination; providers lack cultural competency; and little outreach, education and testing RE: HIV, etc.
(3) Long Term Services and Supports
LGBT hostility, bias and discrimination routine/legal; few aging providers trained in LGBT cultural competence; reluctance to access mainstream aging services, etc.
(4) Elder Justice
Elder abuse from friends /family and staff and residents in long-term care settings – compounded by social isolation and fear of being outed when reporting, etc.
SAGE would like to be able to communicate to the White House what LGBT/aging and HIV/aging issues people around the country care about. To that end, in the next few pages, you will have an opportunity to answer some questions. Your Mission: think about these issues through the lens of an LGBT older adult, an older adult with HIV, or someone who works with or cares for them.