Federal grant to help gay senior advocacy group open first national resource center

Michael Adams, executive director, SAGE

New York, February 10, 2010 – Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE) has been awarded a three-year, $900,000 grant from federal secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, and the U.S. Administration on Aging. The money will be used to start the country’s only national resource center on LGBT aging. 

“The creation of the ‘National Technical Assistance Resource Center for LGBT Elders’ is a monumental step forward for the LGBT community,” says Michael Adams, executive director, SAGE. “SAGE is extremely gratified to be given this opportunity to create and oversee the Resource Center in close cooperation with the Administration on Aging.”

The center will help communities provide services and support systems for LGBT seniors.  It will offer training to service providers and LGBT agencies while educating older LGBT people on key issues.

“Agencies that provide services to older individuals may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the needs of this underserved population,” says Secretary Sebelius. “The Resource Center will provide information, assistance and resources for both mainstream aging organizations and LGBT organizations and will provide assistance to LGBT individuals as they plan for future long-term care needs.” 

SAGE is the nation’s oldest and largest organization serving LGBT older adults.   In 2005, SAGE became the first official LGBT delegate at a White House Conference on Aging.  It is the first LGBT member of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations.  In 2008, SAGE celebrated its 30th anniversary with its 4th National Conference on LGBT Aging, which was sponsored by AARP.  Learn more at SAGEUSA.org.