OUTINCT2019

LGBTQ+
& Aging
Many people have either used or been
told the figure of speech “you can’t
put the toothpaste back in the tube”
to illustrate the difficulty of going back
once something has been done.
While it may seem like a stretch of the analogy,
try to imagine living a life in which you felt open and
comfortable with being who you are with your family,
partner, friends and others, only to feel a need to put
that life back into the proverbial “closet” as you age.
That is the necessity many LGBTQ+ elders in
the United States are being forced to confront. The
generation of pioneers who created and carried the
flag in a charge to gain rights, eradicate discrimination
and change laws, now often choose to hide
their sexuality out of fear for their safety or quality
of life.
According to a Gallup poll, the percentage
of American adults born before 1964 who identify
as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has
declined since 2012, when Gallup began tracking
the data. Despite this trend, a record 4.5
percent of American adults overall identified
as LGBT in 2017, up from 3.5 percent in
2012. The growth is being driven by millennials,
whose self-reporting jumped from 5.2
percent in 2012 to 8.1 percent in 2017.
While the growth points to a brighter future,
the six-year trend shines a spotlight on
a troubling present. The median age of the
nation is rising, increasing from 35.3 years in
2000 to 37.9 in 2016, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. Connecticut, with a median
age of 40.3, is the seventh oldest state in
the nation and aging. The number of res-
idents over 60 in the state is projected to hit more
than one in four by 2030. The estimated number of
older LGBTQ+ residents in Connecticut is 24,000
and, like the rest of the population, that number is
growing.
While AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
for people 50-plus, we are also on the frontlines
advocating on issues that impact residents of all ages.
Our membership of nearly 38 million nationwide and
over 600,000 here in Connecticut represent every
walk of life and reflect diverse populations.
We recognize the only way to be successful in our
efforts to serve and advocate for the residents is to
ensure that the views and interests of all segments of
the population – across race and ethnicity, gender,
physical ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity
– are reflected and included.
In a multifaceted approach, AARP Connecticut
teams up with diverse organizations around the state,
including LGBTQ+, to give everyone a voice and
provide information that is relevant to them. As part
of this, we provide information and resources on important
topics; advocacy on state and federal issues;
quality volunteer opportunities; and special access to
local AARP events, programs and services.
Statistics that make people pause, gasp and
speak-up for change are easily found on the internet,
but more than reading words, it’s seeing the people
being impacted, hearing their stories and feeling
their heartbreak that often leads to the foundation of
a movement and sustained motivation.
The award-winning documentary Gen Silent is
one tool that can do that and AARP Connecticut is
showcasing the 2010 film to as many people as possible
at locations across the state.
LGBTQ+ GUIDE OF CT | 31