Your Rights & Resources

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+) older adults in the U.S. are at the nexus of two highly visible national trends. The first trend is demographic: every day, 10,000 people turn 65, a shift that will rapidly age this country and dramatically impact the lives of LGBTQ+ people who often grow older without sufficient supports, resources or rights. The second trend is cultural: as LGBTQ+ people gradually achieve significant (though limited and not yet equal) legal rights, making it easier for certain segments to live openly as LGBTQ+ people, the public has become increasingly allied with their LGBTQ+ family members and friends, and invested in the LGBTQ+ experience. Yet while these two trends have magnified the visibility of aging in America, as well as the barriers affecting LGBTQ+ people, the relationship between aging and LGBTQ+ life remains largely understudied. This study seeks to make more visible the concerns and aspirations of LGBTQ+ older people across the spectrum.