OutWord

First National Survey of LGBT Boomers:
Views From the LGAIN Advisory Panel

A new report released at the end of November, "Out and Aging: The MetLife Study of Lesbian and Gay Baby Boomers," begins to fill in the blanks in our understanding of LGBT Americans ages 40-61. OutWord interviews the three LGAIN members who advised on the project. Read More >>

Encountering -- and Countering -- Homophobia:
A Professor’s Experience at a Graduate School

What happens when a professor presenting on LGBT aging at a diversity conference for graduate students in psychology encounters anti-LGBT hostility? LGAIN member Kevin J. Kukoleck reports on his experience of one such incident -- and on his reaction. Read More >>

Queerness, Aging and Spirituality:
Perspectives From Malcolm Boyd

Now 84 years old, the Rev. Malcolm Boyd is an elder statesman of the movement to reclaim religion for LGBT people. Discussing the impact of aging on his spiritual life, the noted progressive leader, author and lecturer says simply, "I am much more relaxed! I pray more!" Read More >>

Impressions of a Social Work Undergraduate:
LGAIN and the ASA-NCOA Joint Conference

As part of his coming out of the closet, undergraduate social work student Fernando Mena read avidly about LGBT life. "Most of the books indicated that the most underserved part of the gay world was the aging group," he notes, "and that motivated me to go to the ASA conference and learn more." Read More >>

A New Look for the LGAIN Newsletter;
A Look Ahead to the Joint Conference

Leadership Council chair Kimberly Acquaviva highlights the longtime support that ASA’s recently retired president and CEO brought to work on behalf of LGBT elders and offers a preview of LGAIN’s plans for the 2007 ASA-NCOA Joint Conference. Read More >>

Project Visibility Receives National Diversity Honors

Project Visibility, an LGBT awareness training program sponsored by the Boulder County Aging Services Division in Colorado, recently received two national awards: A National Association of Counties 2006 Achievement Award and the 2006 Aging Innovations Award for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Since 2004, Project Visibility has trained numerous professionals and services providers in Colorado to encourage cultural competence in working with LGBT elders. The curriculum for the training -- including a video, a PowerPoint presentation and a manual -- is available for purchase from Project Visibility. For more information, visit www.projectvisibility.org.