Caring for each other from the start
Happy anniversary to us! In 1978, a young lesbian social worker and an upstart gay psychology professor met for coffee to talk about the lack of services available to LGBTQ+ older people in New York City.
A shared commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and passion for problem-solving brought Chris Almvig and Doug Kimmel together. Quickly, they rolled up their sleeves, recruited a small group of friends, reached out to LGBTQ+ older people, and established a friendly visitor program.
Thanks to the early leadership of our cofounders, today’s LGBTQ+ older adults have a strong, vital organization in SAGE.
Below, explore how we’ve grown over the past 40 years. Then, join in. Together, we’ll ensure that we’ll keep taking care of our own, building more welcoming communities for tomorrow’s LGBTQ+ elders.
Cheers to 40 years of community
See why SAGE participant Alston Green says, “I’m grateful to have a place like SAGE.”
What does SAGE mean?
PERSON 1: What it means to me is, it’s wonderful to be able to have a place where elders or older gays and lesbians can come, a place where we can feel free, a place where we can gather as community.
PERSON 2: SAGE was started 40 years ago. So this small group of community activists came together, really to make a difference, and to work together to change that, and that was the beginning of SAGE.
PERSON 3: I was around for the beginning of this old journey for the LGBTQ+ community, and you know, when you’re young you don’t realize the importance it is to have a place for older adults and especially older LGBTQ+. Now that I am an older adult and I’m grateful that they have a place like SAGE.
PERSON 2: When older folks are members of the LGBTQ+ community, they face a number of significant challenges and probably at the top of the list are very severe levels of social isolation, which comes from the fact that most LGBTQ+ elders are not parents and so as they age they don’t have adult sons, adult daughters to be present and help support them in their aging. They’re also much more likely to age single and living alone in many cases. Care providers, elder services providers really aren’t equipped with the knowledge, the skills that they need to do a good job in providing services and care, and so they can’t find the care that they need. Unfortunately, it is still the case that many times LGBTQ+ elders confront discrimination. Even though we still face discrimination, and still face marginalization, there has been substantial progress. There is a much greater level of social acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. It’s been achieved in the last 40 years. There are more legal protections and a recognition of marriage equality. So there has been very very substantial progress.
PERSON 2: SAGE, fortunately it was started like in 1979, I think it was 79, so that’s really roughly 10 years after the beginning of the Stonewall, you know the beginning of the gay revolution. So the idea, they had a focus that was necessary for older adults. Then elders LGBTQ+ population was really very important, but you know when I was younger I didn’t realize it, but I’m so grateful that it’s here now. I really am very grateful.
Celebrating wisdom and perseverance
LGBTQ+ people have seen incredible progress over the past 40 years. It took fierce advocacy by our pioneers—our elders—to secure so many victories against bigotry and ignorance. We stand with them now and always.
Explore our timeline
See how we’ve evolved over the past 40 years, from information and referrals to socializing and dances to national advocacy and services.
First community meeting and Certificate of Incorporation
1978
SAGE begins social programs and becomes incorporated with the State of New York as Senior Action in a Gay Environment, Inc.
Nation’s first Friendly Visitor program
1979
SAGE pilots a volunteer program that matches volunteers from the community with LGBT older adults
Jim Flanagan named first Executive Director
1980
Flanagan led SAGE’s efforts for two years
Move to 208 West 13th Street
1981
Currently home to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, SAGE still holds some programs here
Ken Dawson Becomes Executive Director
1982
Dawson shifts SAGE’s focus to activism and self-help
Receives Gerontologist Award for Achievement in Advocacy or Service
1983
SAGE is declared a national prototype of supportive services for LGBT elders
Opens drop-in center for LGBT seniors
1984
SAGE’s drop-in center for LGBT older people is the nation’s first of its kind
Barbara Emmerth named SAGE’s third Executive Director
1987
First woman to hold the position
Friendly Visitor program mobilizes to help during AIDS crisis
1988
SAGE organizes 75 volunteer friendly visitors to meet the needs of homebound elders amidst the AIDS crisis
Establishes AIDS and the Elderly program
1989
SAGE’s was the first program of its kind in the United States
Scott Borden and Arlene Kochman named Co-Executive Directors
1990
Equal positions: Borden leads Finances/Development and Kochman leads Program/Public Education. Kochman named fifth Executive Director in 1991
Launch of national network of affiliates
1992
SAGE affiliate network begins and holds its first conference
Movie about SAGE participants nominated for Academy Award
1993
“For Better or Worse” featured longtime SAGE supporters Gean Harwood and Bruhs Mero
Headquarters opens at 305 7th Avenue, NYC
1995
Still SAGE’s HQ, as well as the location of the Edie Windsor SAGE Center
Richard Bannin succeeded in short order by Terry Kaelber as ED
1997
The Executive Directors were SAGE’s 6th and 7th, respectively
Hosts first National Conference on Aging
1998
SAGE welcomes service providers, activists, and researchers from across the country
Full-page ad in New York Times
2000
Advertises its services to readers
Receives NYC City Council grant for nation’s first senior center for LGBT people
2000
Continuing its series of firsts, this grant establishes SAGE as having the first full-service senior center for LGBT people in the United States
Acronym changed to “Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders”
2004
Explicitly incorporates lesbian, bisexual, and transgender into SAGE’s mission and name
Sole LGBT delegate at White House Conference on Aging
2005
Only LGBT representative at 2005 White House Conference on Aging
Michael Adams named SAGE’s 8th Executive Director
2006
Adams addresses financial difficulties and strengthens the organization’s infrastructure; he remains in the role today
Launch of “SAGE Is” marketing campaign
2008
Buzzy, award-winning ad campaign timed to SAGE’s hosting of the 4th National Conference on LGBT Aging
Receives $1 million award from Calamus Foundation
2008
SAGE’s 30th anniversary motivated donation from the foundation, which focuses on care and support services to the LGBT community and those living with HIV/AIDS
SAGE Harlem opens its doors
2009
SAGE Center Harlem opens in the historic Theresa Hotel, strengthening SAGE’s responsiveness to communities of color
Named only LGBT member of Leadership Council of Aging Organizations
2009
Only LGBT member of coalition of the nation’s nonprofit organizations serving older Americans.
Founding member of Diverse Elders Coalition
2010
As founding member of national Diverse Elders Coalition, helps organize Coalition’s first Capitol Hill briefing
Launches National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards SAGE a grant to establish the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, America’s first such center
Opens policy office in Washington, D.C.
2010
Proactive advocacy efforts
First Board members from outside NYC
2011
Other locales include Washington, D.C., Chicago, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and Los Angeles
First White House LGBT Conference on Aging
2012
SAGE catalyzes national participation in the Obama Administration’s first-ever White House LGBT Conference on Aging
Releases report on transgender older adults
2012
With the National Center for Transgender Equality, SAGE releases a path-breaking report on transgender older adults
The SAGE Center in New York City opens
2012
Grand opening of the country’s first full-fledged, publicly funded senior center for LGBT elders
Files a key amicus brief in marriage equality Supreme Court case
2013
SAGE joins American Society on Aging and other ally organizations in filing a key amicus brief providing LGBT elder perspective on marriage equality in Edie Windsor’s successful Supreme Court challenge
Releases Health Equity and LGBT Elders of Color report
2013
SAGE releases a groundbreaking report on improving health and wellness for LGBT older people of color
Launches LGBT Elder Veterans Initiative
2014
SAGE receives funding from New York State Legislature to launch LGBT Elder Veterans Initiative
Releases Out & Visible report
2014
SAGE releases the first national market study on the experiences and perspectives of LGBT older adults
Wins major policy victories
2015
SAGE wins major policy victories at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging
Launches the National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative
2015
SAGE receives $250,000 from CITI and $1 million from the Calamus Foundation to expand its National LGBT Elder Housing Initiatives
New SAGE Centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island
2015
With support from the NYC Council, SAGE inaugurates new SAGE Centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn (with GRIOT Circle), and Staten Island (with Pride Center of Staten Island)
Launches SAGECare cultural competency training
2016
SAGECare is a training and credentialing program for care providers committed to offering LGBT-inclusive and culturally competent services
Announces NYC’s first LGBT elder housing
2016
Opening in 2019, Brooklyn’s Ingersoll Senior Residences—with more than 225 apartments and an on-site SAGE Center—will be NYC’s first LGBT-welcoming elder housing
Launches “We Refuse to Be Invisible” Campaign
2017
National advocacy campaign forces Trump administration to abandon plans to erase LGB elders from evaluation of federal elders; followed by trans-specific campaign
First SAGE Table
2017
Initiative to build ties across LGBT generations gathers 3,500 people nationally for one-day event
Dedication of Edie Windsor SAGE Center
2017
SAGE Center Midtown renamed Edie Windsor SAGE Center in honor of former Board member and beloved particpant
Presents LGBT program track at global conference
2018
SAGE partners with International Federation on Aging (IFA) to present first-ever LGBT program track at global conference
LET’S CELEBRATE TOGETHER Do you have a SAGE story to tell or photo to share? Tell us about it!
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We always said that “community means taking care of our most vulnerable.” I see SAGE taking that to a larger level with their federal advocacy efforts.
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At the age of 60, I became a founding member of SAGE. In 1985, I organized SAGE’s first Women’s Dance. We had an idea it would take off, and it did!
