Photo by Gene Knapp

Presenters Jeff Baltes and Vanessa Shelmandine

The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center received a $20,000 grant from SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) to support the training of a group of volunteers to become skilled advocates with legislators and other decision-makers with respect to LGBT issues and, particularly, those issues related to older adults and an aging population. Jeff Baltes, a member of the Center’s Board of Directors, Gene Knapp, Center member and Men’s Group Chairman, and Vanessa Shelmandine, the Director of Programs at the Center, were trained in advocacy skills and capacity-building in this arena at a recent three day workshop in New York City sponsored by SAGE. In turn, the three will be part of a local effort to develop a team of skilled advocates who are well versed in issues related to GLBT elders and who can articulate related concerns to key contact individuals and agencies.

The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center received a $20,000 grant from SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) to support the training of a group of volunteers to become skilled advocates with legislators and other decision-makers with respect to LGBT issues and, particularly, those issues related to older adults and an aging population.

Photo by Gene Knapp

Some Forum Participants

Jeff Baltes, a member of the Center’s Board of Directors, Gene Knapp, Center member and Men’s Group Chairman, and Vanessa Shelmandine, the Director of Programs at the Center, recently attended a three-day SAGE workshop in New York City to learn advocacy skills and capacity-building in this arena. In turn, the three will be part of a local effort to develop a team of skilled advocates who are well versed in issues related to GLBT elders and who can articulate related concerns to key contact individuals and agencies.

Barbara Fried, Project Director and author of the grant proposal, helped to illustrate the importance of this initiative as critical research was shared with participants to help guide the conversations around concerns with finances, aging in place, accessing care, legal issues, and a host of other topics which will help to shape the advocacy agenda for the group.

Photo by Gene Knapp

More Forum Participants

The research shows that LGBT elders are more likely to live alone and to be separated from their biological families. Almost one in five LGBT elders are unsure who will take care of them when the need arises. In addition, LGBT people are less likely to have insurance and a regular source of care.

Consequently, many LGBT elders will need to rely on social service and community health care agencies. The widely held belief that elders are sexually inactive, heterosexual, and monogamously coupled or widowed does a disservice to all older adults, but especially LGBT elders. The research also shows that even providers who know or suspect they have LGBT clients often do not know how to server them. These are just some of the reasons to develop a public policy and legislative agenda that reflects the needs of older LGBT people.

More Training Sessions Planned for the Future

The Civic Engagement project will continue to offer specific training in advocacy skills, interacting with media, presenting data and developing personalized stories to bring depth, meaning and understanding to these very real concerns. Attendees enthusiastically embraced this chance to “make a difference,” and we hope that they will continue to participate as we build our competence in these critical areas.

If you are interested in getting involved in advocacy training, contact Vanessa at programs@lgbtqcenter.org.