Thank you to everyone who came out to the LGBTQ Aging Town Hall. Thanks especially to all the LGBTQ older adults who came out and made their voices heard!
To follow the discussion from the town hall, you can check out the hashtag #LGBTQAgingDC on Twitter. Click here to see the discussion. The Washington Blade also wrote a story about the town hall. Click here to read the Washington Blade Story.
Here are a few quick follow up notes for folks who were at the Town Hall.
- Brock Thompson and others mentioned the excellent programs for LGBTQ older adults that exist in Chicago at the Chicago LGBTQ Community Center (Center on Halstead). Click here to learn about programs for LGBTQ Older Adults in Chicago.
- Cedric Lawson mentioned the film Gen Silent and encouraged DOA staff to watch it if they haven’t already. Learn more about the documentary Gen Silent here.
- There was a lot of discussion about suicide and older LGBTQ adults. I believe Wes Morrison was the one who Suggested Ryan Newcomb at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) as a resource. Learn more about AFSP’s work on LGBTQ Suicide Prevention here.
We remain steadfast in our requests from the Office of Aging.
- Capacity building grants to LGBTQ organizations in DC that want to serve LGBTQ Older Adults
- A congregant meal program for LGBTQ older adults in the District
- Better data on LGBTQ older adults.
As always we encourage you to follow Center Aging on facebook at facebook.com/centeraging or on twitter at twitter.com/centeraging for updates. You can also call the DC Center support desk during office hours at 202 682-2245.
LGBTQ older adults are welcome to join us for Coffee & Conversation, which takes place every Monday morning from 10:00 AM to Noon at the DC Center. We also host a lunch for LGBTQ older adults on the fourth Friday of every month from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Finally, we hope you will also join us on Thanksgiving Day starting at 1:00 PM (and bring your favorite board game!).
You all gave some great suggestions to the Office of Aging this week, and it remains to be seen what they will do with those suggestions. Every older adult in the District deserves an equal opportunity to thrive in their senior years, and we know the Office of Aging is just not reaching our community the way they should be. We will see what happens, but in the meantime, we will keep pushing for equity, I know you will keep pushing as well. Thanks everyone!
-David Mariner