GLEH Housing for Gay and Lesbian Seniors

LGBT seniors are twice as likely to live alone than heterosexual seniors and more than four times as likely to have no children, according to SAGE, an advocacy and service organization for LGBT seniors. Some older/mature gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people also avoid seeking needed services out of fear of discrimination and many go back into the closest to avoid being in "vulnerable" situations.

(New York City) Frank Carter was once a globe-trotting professional dancer; his world is smaller now. He battles multiple health problems, walks with a cane and rarely leaves his compact Manhattan apartment. As an 86-year-old gay man, with no family nearby and many acquaintances long since dead, he’d seem a likely prospect for isolation.

LGBTs who are currently in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond have lived through most of their years during an era when the closet was the rule rather then the exception; they’ve seen the dawn of the modern gay rights movement and survived the AIDS crisis. Now, they’re becoming pioneers in yet another moment of queer cultural significance: the graying of gay America.

Growing old, we all know, brings with it challenges, which vary with each individual and his or her personal circumstances. At some point, older adults and their families start to look around for help, Mac Senterfitt – Edward is his given name – was among the first to move into The Village at 46th & Ten, a residence that Village Care of New York opened in late 2001. The place was designed to accommodate seniors with a range of needs – from individuals able to live independently to those with assisted-living-level requirements.

When Gayle had a stroke one Sunday evening nine years ago, she was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center’s emergency room, Minnesota’s third largest hospital. But when Gayle (a senior trans woman) got there, she was told that in order to receive treatment, she would have to re-assume her old identity: She had to become Glen if she wanted to be helped.

Larry Gibson first spotted Dennis Golay outside West Hollywood's French Market Place. By the time he was halfway across Santa Monica Boulevard, he'd fallen in love. It was Nov. 14, 1981 -- Golay's 34th birthday.

When lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors need to turn to others for housing assistance, they often face three challenges: lack of family help, a shortage of welcoming housing and fear of discrimination and harassment.