LGBTQ Aging Summit 'OUTAging' to Address Advocacy, Service Needs in Chicago

Pride Action Tank, AARP and Affinity Community Services will host OUTAging: Summit on Our Possibilities, including an opening reception, on May 23-25. The summit will bring together LGBTQ older adults, service providers, clinicians and advocates from across the nation to talk about the needs of LGBTQ older adults (55+ years of age) in the Chicago region.

OUTAging will begin with an opening reception at Affinity Community Services, 2850 S Wabash Ave, on Tuesday, May 23, from 6-8 p.m. Summit days will take place on May 24 and 25, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Chicago offices of AARP, 222 N. LaSalle St. OUTAging's lead sponsor is Lambda Legal, and other sponsors include AARP, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Chicago Foundation for Women.

The Wednesday, May 24, summit day is free to attend and only for LGBTQ older adults who are not paid staff of service providers or related institutions. There is a registration fee for Thursday, May 25, which is targeted to service providers, clinicians, researchers, advocates and others who are interested in improving outcomes for LGBTQ older adults.

Guest keynote speakers include Barbara Satin, transgender activist and assistant faith work director for The National LGBTQ Task Force, and Imani Woody, PhD, founding director and president of Mary's House for Older Adults in Washington, D.C. Panel speakers include Dr. Magda Houlberg from Howard Brown Health, Karen Loewy from Lambda Legal, Dr. Adeyemi Oluwatoyin from Stroger Hospital, and Serena Worthington from SAGE. Facilitated discussion topics include health and well-being, personal safety and security, and community and connections.

Heron Greenesmith, senior policy analyst for the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) will also present findings from MAP's latest report, Understanding Issues Facing LGBT Older Adults, which will be released at OUTAging.

There are 1.5 million LGBTQ older adults in the U.S.; approximately 40,000 of them live in Chicago. These numbers are expected to double by 2030. From lack of acknowledgement of families of choice to the challenges of meeting the needs of an aging population living with HIV to forcing people back into the closet when they reside in senior facilities, it is evident that our systems of care often do not work for LGBTQ older adults.

The summit's goals are to:
--Create a platform that centers the voices and experiences of LGBTQ older adults to shed light on the issues they face and gaps in services, resources and opportunities;
--Provide a diverse and inclusive forum for redefining aging and care; and
--Develop an agenda for advocacy, resources and inclusion with and for LGBTQ older adults.

OUTAging is organized by a planning committee that includes LGBTQ older adults as well as staff from AARP, Affinity Community Services, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Center on Halsted, Pride Action Tank, University of Illinois at Chicago and SAGE.

Participants must register here for each activity they plan to attend.

IF YOU GO:

OUTAging: Summit on Our Possibilities

May 23 Opening Reception
Affinity
Public
FREE

May 24 Summit - Day 1
AARP
LGBTQ older adults only
FREE

May 25 Summit - Day 2
AARP
Public
$35/$45

Early-bird registration for Day 2 of OUTAging is $35. After May 12, registration is $45. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for May 24 and 25. To register for activities and learn more, go to bit.ly/outaging.

Pride Action Tank is a project of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Our mission is to improve the health, safety and progress of individuals and groups within the LGBTQIA community by inspiring, supporting and leading collaborative action that improves policy, service, access and community dynamics in the core areas of housing, health, safety, financial security, youth and aging.