The only coalition in Oregon focused on supporting older LGBTQ+ adults is moving from a fully volunteer endeavor to a more organized, fiscally-sponsored effort thanks to a new partnership.

The Oregon LGBTQ+ Aging Coalition is collaborating with the nonprofit AGE+ to hire their first paid staff members and expand their reach.

Brandy Penner, executive director of the coalition, said creating more visibility through research, education and advocacy is central to their work.

"Especially when we're talking about healthcare settings," Penner stressed. "If you can't be completely open and honest with your healthcare providers about your entire life, that has dramatic health disparities and reduced outcomes for folks."

Penner pointed out data on LGBTQ+ people has been limited, despite Oregon having the highest per capita LGBTQ+ population in the U.S. The coalition helped create a statewide survey in 2021, which found older queer adults face economic and health disparities, along with social isolation and underreported abuse.

Penner noted the survey found because older queer adults cannot always rely on mainstream support, they often excel at building support within their own communities. She added the coalition will take a few years to transition to a stand-alone nonprofit and hopes the federal government will be more friendly to their cause by then. Critics of the Trump administration said it has been attempting to reverse LGBTQ+ protections.

"We have to fight these attempted erasures to make sure that folks cannot only just live but actually thrive," Penner urged. "It's not just nice to have. It is incredibly critical for aging well."

Penner underscored the coalition is looking ahead to working with AGE+ on a queer-focused end-of-life planning guide and new legal protections to ensure gender identity is respected after death.

Source: Public News Service