Challenges facing LGBT elders

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) face a number of particular concerns as they age. They often do not access adequate health care, affordable housing or other social services that they need due to institutionalized heterosexism. Existing regulations and proposed policy changes in programs like Social Security or Medicare, which impact millions of LGBT elders, are discussed without a LGBT perspective engaging the debate.

"The baby boomers are coming, the baby boomers are coming." For years now everyone's been hearing the warnings about the anticipated crisis in elder care . If you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), the challenge is complicated due to widespread homophobia, trans-phobia, racial injustice and economic inequality. Right now estimates say there are 1.5 million LGBT elders in the United States, and by 2030 that number will nearly double to 3 million LGBT people 65 and older.