Gay and Gray in the USA

The entire American population is aging; thanks to the Baby Boomers (a group of which I am a bona fide member) the 65-and-older population of the U.S. is expected to nearly double by 2050. 

That includes LGBT seniors – both people who have lived most of their lives in the closet due to the homophobia of society and, unprecedented in history, an entire generation who will have grown up and grown old in the context of an ever-more-visible and successful movement for the visibility and equality of LGBT Americans. (If you haven’t seen Lily Tomlin in the new film Grandma yet… you should.)

Organizations dedicated to supporting LGBT seniors have existed for nearly four decades, and this century has seen an increased growth in them around the country. The people who form the heart and soul of these groups are the seniors themselves.  Like their non-LGBT contemporaries, they are redefining what it means to be an older American – with a particular twist. And, happily for authors, they read. 

That’s why Chuck and I are especially proud that this year, as the nation observes Veterans Day, we will be presenting our “Gay in the Great War” program to two different groups for LGBT seniors: Silver Connections at The Loft in White Plains, NY on Saturday, November 14, and Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County on Tuesday, November 17, in Williamstown, MA.

The Silver Connections event will take place on Saturday, November 14, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, at the Loft, the Westchester LGBT community center, located at 252 Bryant Avenue, White Plains, NY. The lunch menu features salads, sandwiches, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. To reserve in advance, call Scott Havelka, The Loft’s Director of Programs and Services, at (914) 948-2932 x12. 

Silver Connections is a senior outreach program providing social, recreational, educational, and cultural activities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors 55 years and older.

The Rainbow Seniors potluck luncheon begins at noon on Tuesday, November 17 at the First Congregational Church, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA. The performance starts at followed by the 12:45 PM and concludes at 2:00 PM, with a Q&A with the author. Luncheon attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. Admission to this event is free. All LGBT seniors and their friends and allies are invited to attend. For more information about Rainbow Seniors, contact Ed Sedarbaum at (413) 441-6006 or email him by clicking here.

Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County is a newly founded organization that provides social and cultural opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender senior citizens and friends. It was created by a pioneer in LGBT senior causes, Ed Sedarbaum, a native New Yorker. While living in Jackson Heights, Queens, during the 1990s, Sedarbaum founded the Queens Center for Gay Seniors.