The LGBT Community and Aging

The issues associated with aging present varied challenges for lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people. This book, "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging: Research and Clinical Perspectives," edited by Douglas Kimmel, Tara Rose and Steven David is an anthology adressing the special needs of our aging community. These include sexuality, physical and mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, legal concerns and end-of-life decision making to name only a few. The chapters range in tone from a clinical data format to more informal and conversational. For interested Bay Area folks, there is also a chapter on the founding of openhouse, the local LGBT retirement housing organization in San Francisco. This anthology with its wide-ranging scope and pertinent information this book is a valuable resource for clinicians, aging LGBTs and those who are involved in their lives.
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Other Queer Elder Issues in the News:

The fight for LGBT equal rights in the Social Security System is in full swing. Representative Linda Sanchez is introduced a bill to equalize coverage and the web site rockforequality.org

is also active in the campaign. Check out their videos which include the science fiction classic, "What Kind of Planet Are We On?" and "Portraits of Discrimination."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is taking on the case of Harold Scull and Clay Greene, an elderly gay couple who had been together twenty years. up until the day that Scull fell down the front steps of their house in Sonoma. At that point, Scull was hospitalized and the men were forcibly separated. Greene was treated as simply his "roommate" and the couty sold off the home and all their joint property. According to the Bay Area Reporter article "Other than a suitcase of his belongings and a photo book Harold made for him, Clay Greene has nothing left of his former life."