Aging with Pride and Authenticity: LGBTQIA+ Older Adult Study

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🔍 Project Summary

The Aging with Pride and Authenticity initiative is a groundbreaking, statewide research and advocacy effort designed to uplift the voices and lived experiences of underrepresented LGBTQIA+ older adults in California. Completed by the California Department of Aging and UC Berkeley’s Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services (CASAS) and funded by the California Health Care Foundation, Metta Fund, and The SCAN Foundation, the project combines a statewide survey with in-depth focus groups to explore the health, economic, and social realities of LGBTQIA+ people aged 50 and older—particularly those who are BIPOC, rural, transgender, HIV long-term survivors, or economically marginalized.

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✅ Key Takeaways 

• Resilience and Wisdom: Despite systemic challenges, participants across identities and geographies shared stories of community-building, mutual support, activism, and cultural pride as key sources of strength.

• Intersectional Realities: Many participants experience overlapping barriers—from racism and ageism to transphobia and poverty—but also possess unique community knowledge, survival strategies, and caregiving networks.

• Desire for Connection: Intergenerational mentorship, visibility, and culturally affirming social spaces emerged as vital for mental health, identity affirmation, and well-being.

• Health and Housing as Core Needs: Challenges included financial precarity, medical discrimination, and a deep need for affordable, safe housing—particularly for transgender elders and those aging with disabilities or HIV.

• Community Innovation: Participants highlighted peer-led solutions, informal caregiving networks, and culturally grounded approaches as powerful tools for navigating aging.

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📚 Resources Provided

• • Community Handouts – Finding summaries highlighting assets and strategies from nine LGBTQIA+ aging communities
  • Voices from the Community Video Series – Seven-part series featuring participants sharing their wisdom and experiences in their own voices
  • Community PowerPoint Presentation – Slide deck with core findings and extended resources for community education and advocacy
  • Equitable Aging in Health Conceptual Framework – Systems-based framework for understanding interconnected supports that promote thriving in later life
  • Rainbow Generations Chart – Generational mapping tool celebrating distinct LGBTQIA+ cohort experiences and intergenerational strengths
  • California Department of Aging Webinar – June 2025 presentation sharing community wisdom and recommendations for statewide audience

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👥 Who This Is For

• Policy makers and funders designing inclusive aging strategies.

• Service providers and healthcare systems serving LGBTQIA+ elders.

• Researchers and advocates working on equity in aging.

• Community-based organizations supporting older adults in underrepresented populations