A few months back, one of our attendees at a QueerCME livestream challenged us to provide more information and education on medical care for trans elders. That request blossomed into a CME series on elders and, now, a blog series.
We hope to talk about growing older in the next few weeks, provide resources for our elders, and maybe facilitate some intergenerational community.
There isn’t a lot of information or research on trans aging for a few reasons. The same reasons that limit medical research in any trans topic also applies for elders: most medical research is done on cis people (and those studies are overwhelmingly done on white (probably straight) cis men.) This is starting to change, and one of our blogs will be on current research topics.
This past summer, I received a flyer for a trans elder discussion and support group: open to those aged 50 and above. There’s a meme that Gen X were 30 at 13 and are still 30 in their 50s: as a person in my 50s, I had a WTF moment when I realized that I would be considered “an elder.” I happily embrace that I am in my 50s, but I had not done the math.
What Is An Elder?
There are plenty of different definitions of “elder.” We might distill those down into “those who have experience and, perhaps, advice about navigating life’s challenges.” In cis terms, we might think of grandparents as elders, and in stricter structures that rely on “respect your elders” they might be anyone with more authority and power.
A Growing Group
Trans people statistically have poorer health outcomes compared to their cis counterparts, and that’s largely because of prejudice and discrimination. (We’ve talked about minority stress and health before – oppression in a broad way makes people sicker, poorer, and less educated.) Frankly, we’re more likely to die younger than our cis peers.
We don’t know how many elders were stopped from coming out or from transitioning, however they may have wanted to, because of knowledge and discrimination. Trans people have always been here. I am thankful that there is so much more support and opportunity today for LGBTQ+ youth – and adults! Even as we navigate these very scary times, it’s clear that more and more of us are coming out, are able to access gender affirming care, and are thriving. We at QueerDoc are dedicated to our role in expanding access to care and information for all ages.
We also have to acknowledge how AIDS impacted those who would be elders today. Trans people who are now in their early 50s were teens in the 80s: we lost so very many of our generation and those ahead of us to the ravages of AIDS and discrimination.
I look forward to figuring out my place as an elder, celebrating those who I look to for wisdom, advice, and history, welcoming more and more elders as more of us can and will age.
Resources for Trans Elders
This is not a complete list – and we’d love to find out about resources that you know about! Email us at info@queerdoc.com.
National Resources:
SAGE – Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
SAGE is a national advocacy and services organization. Check out their Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging for:
- Referrals to affirming aging services
- Elder Crisis Hotline (877-360-5428)
- Resource Library
- National Resources
- Resources by State
- Direct requests for technical assistance
- Information on their educational services
SAGE also provides direct services to individuals in New York and Southern Florida and provides a variety of services nationwide.
Interested in long-term care and senior housing? SAGE and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation work together to create and publish the Long-Term Care Equality Index to promote affirming aging communities. The 2023 report surveyed over 200 communities in 34 states.
FORGE Transgender Aging Network
FORGE participates in research, provides education for providers, and runs a support-focused email listserve for elder trans folk and their partners, friends, families, and allies.
Lambda Legal’s Resources for TGNC Seniors
Seattle/King County, WA:
GenPride
GenPride is an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ elders in Seattle and King County, WA. They offer:
- Resource and Referral Line 206-393-3400
- Events, workshops, and classes
- Campaign to build an LGBTQIA+ senior community center at Pride Place, an affordable housing development for seniors 55+ in Capitol Hill, Seattle
Recommended Reading:
TRANScestors: Navigating LGBTQ+ Aging, Illness and End of Life Decisions
edited by Jude Patton and Margot Wilson
Volume I – Generations of Hope
Volume II – Generations of Change
End of Life Planning:
- Planning for Lifelong Care: Guiding Questions for Transgender & Non-Binary People to Plan for Dementia and Other Serious Illness
- Life Planning Documents for Transgender Communities (Transgender Law Center)
- LGBTQ+ Advance Directives and End of Life Planning Toolkit (Compassion & Choices)
- INELDA – What if Death Care Were Designed For Trans and Nonbinary People?
- INELDA is the International End-Of-Life Doula Association that advocates for end of life care and trains end of life doulas. They have an internal PRIDE affinity group and may be able to connect you to an affirming doula.
- General information on Advance Directives.
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