The Newspaper on GLBT Agimng atters SUMMER 2007 GRIOT CIRCLE TALKS TO SAGE SAGE LOBBIES NEW YORK GLBT ELDERS AROUND THE COUNTRY >> Directors of SAGE and GRIOT Circle STATE LEGISLATURE VISITS MILWAUKEE discuss their organizations’ goals, >> SAGE travels to Albany to advocate >> A growing SAGE-Net organization in this challenges and collaboration . for increased state funding . See page 4. Midwestern city is enhancing opportunities See page 3. for GLBT elders . See page 10. What Does Gay Pride Mean to You? BY BETH KLING Mary Pauline Jerry Gregory Marlene Gay pride is the only day The parade means we Gay pride is a day to be in I’ve been involved since I’ve been marching since we can express our true pushed back at Stonewall; the world’s face. From the the beginning, and I 1933 when my mother feelings, and we’re all it means we’re here and nelliest queen to the remember all the different brought me in my stroller together. Years ago, if they we’re going to stay. And butchest dyke, it’s the day characters who have made to marches on May Day. In saw you at the parade, you every year it gets bigger and when we say, “This is who the parade a festive event. It 2004 I marched for Kerry; could get fired from your bigger. I’ve been marching we are.” At the first march, means that we’re proud, and I’ve been marching forever. job. Now it’s no big deal; since 1977. I march with we were threatened with I believe many straight folks And this is really one of the everybody comes out. In the Butch-Femme Society, bombs and shootings; we must appreciate that we’re only movements that has fact the whole month of and there’s a huge selection went up Fifth Avenue so fast not backing down, and that actually seen progress. June is our month. of groups to march with. they called it “the first run.” makes me proud. We don’t all have to look What was so amazing was the same. seeing it grow as we went. Gayby Boomers Fight Retirement SAGE Expands Services in Harlem Discrimination in New Mexico for HIV-Positive GLBTs over 50 BY MIKE NADEAU AND MICHAEL ADAMS There’s been a lot of speculation about whether a new BY BETH KLING generation of GLBT older people — the Gayby Boomers One in three New Yorkers living with HIV today is over age 55, a result of rising — will shake up the world of aging. As columnist Deb infection rates, as well as greater numbers of people growing older with the disease. Price asks, what will happen when “the first generation of Many years ago, SAGE recognized that HIV was not just a young person’s disease when gay Americans to have spent much of adulthood outside in 1988 the organization started SAGE Positive, a program for HIV-positive men over the closet hits retirement — and runs smack into a retire - age 50. SAGE Positive continues to offer support and information to members of the ment world not used to dealing with gay people prepared older population living with HIV. In recent months, SAGE has begun to expand to speak up for themselves?” services for people living with HIV in Harlem, the neighborhood second only to Chelsea Of course, the current generation of GLBT seniors has in rates of new infection for HIV cases. its share of individuals ready, willing and able to speak “When you consider the aging of the epidemic and the high rates of infection in out for GLBT rights. But the impending retirement of the Harlem, at the intersection is a population that SAGE serves — GLBT elders living in Baby Boomers might be the start of a much larger scale of Harlem,” said Tom Weber, director of community services at SAGE. “A disproportion - activism. One example of the coming surge can be found ate number of GLBT elders living in Harlem are HIV-infected.” in New Mexico, where three lesbian couples are the The high rates of HIV infection in the general Harlem population are widely recog - plaintiffs in an ACLU lawsuit demanding that healthcare nized in the community, and agencies operate all over Harlem to provide HIV-related benefits for the domestic partners of retiring government services. But when you add GLBT identity and aging to HIV infection, the capacity to employees continue, just like they do for heterosexual offer needed services and support becomes much more difficult. spouses. “Many GLBT elders in Harlem have a complicated approach to their identity in the The couples, all recently retired or facing retirement, community, so there are challenges in connecting with them to provide services,” said include Ellen Novak and Linda McCreary and Havens Doreen Bermudez, community organizing manager at SAGE. Bermudez pointed out Levitt and Rebecca Dakota, who were interviewed for this that the stigma around HIV similarly keeps people in Harlem silent, isolated, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 02 matters SUMMER 2007 SAGE Offers Services for Aging GLBTs SAGE is the oldest and largest organization in the country dedicated to meeting the needs of GLBT people as they get older. SAGE provides dozens of activities, groups, and programs to ensure the voices of GLBT older people are heard and to encourage GLBT seniors to connect with each other and the community. Through direct services and a wide variety of enriching, life-enhancing programs, SAGE is creating a better aging experience for GLBT seniors in New York City. Through education and advocacy, SAGE is contributing to a better future for older GLBT people throughout the United States. Support Groups Art & Culture Programs Informational SAGE Communities SAGE Positive Alzheimer’s Caregiver Acting Class Programming SAGE Harlem NORC Programming Support Group Art Studio Health and Wellness (Naturally Occurring HIV Counseling SAGE Positive HIV 50+ Booklovers’ Discussion Presentations Retirement Community) HIV 50+ Men’s Support Support Group Heritage and History Monthly HEAT (Harlem Groups – SAGE at Bereavement Group Book Readings Presentations Elders Advocating for the Center Caregiver Support Group Creative Writing Legal Issues Presentations Themselves) Meetings HIV 50+ Men’s Support Workshop Money & Finance Social Activities Group – Harlem Gay Widowers Support Discounted Theatre Presentations Informational Presentations HIV 50+ Women’s Group Tickets Information & Referral Support Group – Harlem Men’s Coming Out Morning at the Opera Women’s Programming HIV Services HIV Testing w/GMHC – MS Support Group Movies Women’s Dances Harlem Older Than Springtime – Women’s Music Salon Women’s HIV+ 50+ Upper West Side HIV Prevention & Men’s Support Group Support Group – Harlem Neighbors Education – Harlem Women’s Support Group Social Activities Women’s Monthly Monthly Socialization Brunch Bunch Birthday Party Programming Volunteer Services Discussion Groups Bus Trips Women’s Music Salon Friendly Visitor Trainings Conscious Creative Aging Dating & Relationship Women: Our Spiritual Education & Advocacy & Support Meetings Life Issues: Beyond Workshops Journeys National Conference on Monthly Volunteer Retirement Daily Drop-In Center Women’s Parties Aging in GLBT Orientation Men 40+ Rap Drop-In Monthly Birthday Women’s Support Group Community Men 50+ Rap Party HIV and Aging Advocacy Drop-In Parties Clinical/Counseling SAGE Curriculum: Savings & Investments Gay Pride Activities Services “No Need to Fear, Senior Elders: 75+ Support Holiday Parties Case Management No Need to Hide” For more Tuesday Daytime SAGERCIZE Individual Counseling SAGE Matters Newspaper Discussion information Scrabble & Bridge HIV Related Counseling Website www.sageusa.org Women: Our Spiritual Socials Group Counseling about SAGE’s Journeys Walks Benefits Counseling Services for Caregivers Women’s Monthly Legal Counseling Respite Services programs, call Community Meetings Birthday Party Walk-In Social Services Caregiver Support Group (212) 741-2247 Monthly Drop-In Women’s Dances Clinic Financial Assistance for Community Meetings Women’s Parties Help Finding a Safe & Caregiving Needs or visit our Monthly HEAT (Harlem Friendly Long-Term Subsidized Home Care website at Elders Advocating for Helping Services Care Facility Subsidized Adult Day Themselves) Meetings Benefits Counseling Help Finding Homecare Services www.sageusa.org Upper West Side Friendly Visitors Programming Planning Legal Clinic Meetings Lend-a-Hand matters The Newspaper on GLBT Aging PUBLISHER: Michael Adams. EDITOR IN CHIEF: Beth Kling. EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Adrian Mayer. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: Liz Ferris, Mike Nadeau, Garrison Phillips, Trumbull Rogers, Eduardo Sanchez, Tom Weber. DESIGNER: Ken Pfeifer. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Lawrence N. Chanen, Esq., Co-Chair • Judith E. Turkel, Esq., Co-Chair • Carol Garcia, Treasurer • Jon Nathanson, Secretary • Phillip A. Saperia, Member-at-Large • Peter Catenacci Herbert I. Cohen, M.D. • Brian C. Craig • Mark D’Alessio • Bonnie Edwards, Esq. • Beth Jones • Joan Koenig • Howard D. Leifman, Ph.D. • Kate Morrison • Ralph Michael Randazzo, Esq. • Cindy L. Schwartz • Frank Stark • Michael Adams, Executive Director. Published three times per year by SAGE, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders, 305 7th Avenue, NY, NY 10001. www.sageusa.org. [email protected]. SAGE is supported in part by the United Way, New York City Department for the Aging, New York State Department of Health, and through the generosity of foundations, corporations, and individuals. ©SAGE 2007. To learn more about SAGE, please call (212) 741-2247 or visit www.sageusa.org SUMMER 2007 matters 03 GRIOT Circle Talks to SAGE Directors of SAGE and GRIOT Circle Discuss Challenges, Goals and Collaboration GRIOT Circle, a community-based organization in Brooklyn that provides services for GLBT elders of color, has been collaborating with SAGE for a number of years. Several years ago, the two organizations joined with SAGE Queens to form RAAP, the Rainbow Aging Alliance Partnership, and won a multi-year grant from New York State to support programming for GLBT seniors.