You often hear people refer to them as “Golden Years,” but for many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors, life is anything but golden. As we enter our later years, many LGBT older adults and their families are forced to navigate unique, complex barriers, often without the traditional support systems many seniors take for granted. Discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare has made many LGBT older adults vulnerable and the lack of relationship recognition, continued harassment by peers and healthcare providers, and the impact of lifelong discrimination silences many LGBT older adults and their families.
In anticipation of the White House LGBT conference on aging taking place Monday in Miami, FL, HRC released an issue brief laying out many of the problems that plague LGBT older adults – problems that are often not widely understood or appreciated in the elder care field.
For example, the lack of formal relationship recognition leaves many LGBT older couples struggling to make ends meet as they plan for their later years and end of life. Older couples can create decision making documents including wills, but in most states these wills can be contested by blood relatives. For older couples not out to their families or the community, the surviving partner often has little standing to protect his or her interest in property.
And even though the loss of a partner can be devastating, both emotionally and financially, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) denies surviving same-sex spouses these critical benefits. In addition, same-sex couples lack access to protections under Medicaid that prevent a healthy spouse from losing a family home and basic assets to survive on when his or her spouse enters nursing or other long-term care. While the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made clear that states can extend these protections to same-sex couples, the vast majority of them do not.
The Obama Administration has taken a number of steps forward to eradicate the discrimination that many LGBT seniors face, and HRC continues to advocate on behalf of older members of our community to ensure they’re receiving equitable care and resources. Because our “Golden Years” should be just that – golden.
Just moments ago, President Obama made history by boldly stating that gay and lesbian Americans deserve full marriage equality.
In saying so, he reinforced what most Americans believe – LGBT people should be fully and equally part of the fabric of our society. Our families deserve nothing less than the equal respect and recognition that comes through marriage.
President Obama’s time in office has shown that our nation can move beyond its shameful history of discrimination and injustice.
I hope you’ll join me in sending President Obama a heartfelt thank-you note right now.
Thanks to President Obama’s leadership, millions of young Americans have seen that their futures will not be limited by what makes them different.
And now, in supporting marriage equality, he’s extended a message of hope to a generation of young LGBT Americans, helping them understand that they too can be who they are and flourish as part of the American community.
His words also remind gay and lesbian families everywhere that they are not alone or unheard as they struggle – like their neighbors – to afford healthcare and college for their kids, pay their taxes, and plan for retirement.
The burden of discrimination will one day be no more, in part thanks to the President’s leadership at this very moment.
Send a thank-you note to President Obama now.
President Obama has been a crucial ally to our cause. But it’s ordinary people like you, standing up for what’s right, who will continue to drive our movement forward. I thank you for your commitment, and I hope you’ll continue to work for the day when all are equal.
President Obama’s statement yesterday that gay and lesbian Americans deserve full marriage equality was honest and simple: All families deserve equal respect and recognition that comes through marriage.
But right-wing antagonists don’t see it that way.
They’re lashing out – enraged over our movement’s new momentum. We won’t let their bigoted rage win. Can you help turn this historic moment into a turning point for equality nationwide?
A generous donor and HRC Board Member – Bruce Bastian – has stepped up with a challenge: He’ll match every donation in the next 24 hours up to $100,000.
You and I know that our nation is on a path to equality, and the President is leading us in that direction. But it won’t happen on its own – certainly not when the far right attacks us and our families at every turn.
HRC’s nationwide fight for marriage equality is using this momentum to ensure we keep moving forward. But it won’t be possible without your support.
There are only so many moments like this one in the life of a movement. Stand with HRC now to show the right wing that we won’t back down from any fight.
Thanks to President Obama, and thanks to you, we are driving our movement forward. With happiness in my heart, and pounding in my chest, I can’t wait for the next day like this.
Are you seeing what I’m seeing? President Obama has stirred a right-wing hornets’ nest.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen them this angry – calling his bold support for marriage equality an “appalling blasphemy” and a “radical ideology,” and holding two anti-LGBT votes in the U.S. House already, with more sure to come…
They’re desperate to turn this moment against us. We can’t let them. HRC Board Member Bruce Bastian just called to say he’ll continue to match all donations up to $100,000 for another 24 hours.
This week has been a giant leap forward. I can’t thank you enough for helping defend against these lies in communities across the country. Stay proud, stay determined.
President Obama’s statement yesterday that gay and lesbian Americans deserve full marriage equality was honest and simple: All families deserve equal respect and recognition that comes through marriage.
But right-wing antagonists don’t see it that way.
They’re lashing out – enraged over our movement’s new momentum. We won’t let their bigoted rage win. Can you help turn this historic moment into a turning point for equality nationwide?
A generous donor and HRC Board Member – Bruce Bastian – has stepped up with a challenge: He’ll match every donation in the next 24 hours up to $100,000.
You and I know that our nation is on a path to equality, and the President is leading us in that direction. But it won’t happen on its own – certainly not when the far right attacks us and our families at every turn.
HRC’s nationwide fight for marriage equality is using this momentum to ensure we keep moving forward. But it won’t be possible without your support.
There are only so many moments like this one in the life of a movement. Stand with HRC now to show the right wing that we won’t back down from any fight.
Thanks to President Obama, and thanks to you, we are driving our movement forward. With happiness in my heart, and pounding in my chest, I can’t wait for the next day like this.
Support full equality, not just gay equality
Straight civil partnerships & religious same-sex marriages too
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is backing the new Out4Marriage.org campaign and has made a supportive YouTube video.
“President Obama joins the British Prime Minister and the new French President in backing same-sex marriage. It’s an unstoppable global trend, with more and more countries planning to end the ban on gay couples getting married. There is growing momentum for same-sex marriage in many countries, from Cuba to Nepal, Denmark, Australia and Columbia,” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Mr Tatchell is the national coordinator of the UK’s Equal Love campaign, which seeks to overturn the twin legal bans on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships.
“Obama’s support will boost the worldwide campaign for marriage equality and, through media reporting of his support, raise awareness of gay marriage among billions of people in every corner of the earth.
“It is significant that Obama’s change of heart was prompted by discussions with his family and friends, including gay White House staffers and gay parents at his daughters’ school. He was also influenced by the sacrifices of US lesbian and gay military personnel. This is further evidence that people who have gay friends are more likely to support gay equality.
“Same-sex couples are already allowed to marry in Canada, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland and South Africa; plus several states in the US, Mexico and Brazil.
“The British campaign for marriage equality involves a twin-track strategy, both political and legal.
“The Equal Love campaign has filed a legal case in the European Court of Human Rights by four gay couples and four straight couples, in a bid to overturn Britain’s twin bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships. We want full equality in civil marriage and civil partnership law.
“Gay marriage is all about love. The love of same-sex couples is just as real, strong and committed as that of married heterosexual men and women. Prohibiting same-sex marriage devalues and denigrates the love of lesbian and gay couples. It signifies our continuing second class legal status.
“Barring same-sex couples from civil marriages and opposite-sex couples from civil partnerships is as offensive as barring black or Jewish couples. It’s a form of sexual apartheid to have separate laws for gay and straight people.
“In a democratic society, everyone should be equal before the law. The Equal Love campaign wants civil marriages and civil partnerships open to gay and heterosexual couples, without any discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“British public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage. A Populus poll in March 2012 found that 65% of the public agreed: “Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships.” Only 27% disagreed. This represents a steady increase in public support for marriage equality and a decline in public opposition,” said Mr Tatchell.
See here: www.populus.co.uk/uploads/OmGay_Rights.pdf
Further information:
Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation
0207 403 1790
Peter@PeterTatchellFoundation.org
www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org
