[New York, NY] The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) has invited Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders (SAGE) to join its membership. The LCAO, which consists of 56 member organizations nationwide, uses its coalition strength to develop effective policy for the nation's diverse aging population. Millions of older Americans are served by the organizations that make up LCAO. In accepting the invitation, SAGE becomes the first member organization of the LCAO to represent LGBT older adults and their concerns.

Statement of Michael Adams, Executive Director, SAGE:

SAGE is honored and excited to become the first LGBT agency to join the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations. SAGE knows how important LCAO is in helping shape this countrys public policy on aging. We also know how important it is that those policies start addressing the needs of LGBT older adults. SAGE is in a unique position to serve as a resource on LGBT aging issues for LCAO and its members. We are looking forward to working with the LCAO as a critically important national voice for all older adults and their families.

About the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) is a coalition of national nonprofit organizations concerned with the well-being of America's older population and committed to representing their interests in the policy-making arena. Recognizing that the strength of the coalition lies in the diversity of its membership, the purpose of the LCAO is to foster communication and resource sharing among its member organizations, to serve as a source of information about issues affecting older persons, to initiate joint advocacy strategies as appropriate, and to provide leadership and vision as America meets the challenges and opportunities presented by its aging society.

For more information, please visit http://www.lcao.org.

SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. With offices in New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, SAGE coordinates a growing network of 22 local SAGE affiliates in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at sageusa.org and lgbtagingcenter.org.