The American Society on Aging has launched a new website that brings together an unparalleled wealth of resources on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) aging from across the United States and around the globe. ASA’s LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse gathers vital information and contacts into a searchable, easy-to-use form and puts them at the fingertips of healthcare and social services providers, policymakers, researchers and students, as well as LGBT elders and their friends, families and caregivers. All visitors are welcome to use the site free of charge.

“The LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse embodies the principle that knowledge is the highest form of respect,” notes ASA President and CEO Robert Stein. “The site provides useful knowledge to all those concerned with the well-being of LGBT older adults, empowering visitors to find the information and direction they need to create stronger networks of family and community for a population of elders who have so often been overlooked and underserved.”

According to experts in the field, the oldest generation of LGBT people -- those in their 80s and beyond -- remains largely invisible in American society. Professional services and community organizing for LGBT elders have nonetheless gradually emerged in the United States and in other countries in the past two decades. With the first wave of LGBT baby boomers now approaching retirement, the demand for such services and organizing is expected to increase exponentially.

An Accessible, Centralized Source

“Community-based services, needs assessments, model programs, cultural competence training and other resources crucial to helping LGBT elders and those who care for them have been developed in a growing number of communities,” says Kimberly A. Acquaviva, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at The George Washington University who serves as cochair of ASA’s LGBT Aging Issues Network. “Progress has been hampered, however, by the lack of any national program to make information about such resources available from a readily accessible and centralized source. The LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse seeks to fill this void.”

The clearinghouse site already provides annotated listings for more than 400 services providers, community organizations, websites, reports and articles -– plus links for ordering DVDs, books and more. A handy search tool enables visitors to find the listings most suited to their specific needs. In addition, the site features original video clips of LGBT elders and professionals in aging discussing key issues; the clips were produced by Michael Jacoby, director of the 2008 documentary “Ten More Good Years.”

ASA developed the LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse with support from the Arcus Foundation and with seed funding from the Hermes Foundation. The site will continue to grow as users suggest additional listings. In addition, ASA is seeking funding to add an interactive community feature and to post a selection of original articles on LGBT aging from the society’s publications.

Visit ASA’s LGBT Aging Resources Clearinghouse at www.asaging.org/larc.

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