Conference to Explore Issues Faced by LGBT Older Adults

The first Ohio conference focusing on issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults will be held February 11 and 12, 2019, at the Sinclair College Conference Center in Dayton. The Miami Valley LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit has been planned by a coalition of community organizations, led by Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County, United Church Homes’ Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, and Rainbow Elder Care of Greater Dayton.  The Area Agency on Aging is proud to sponsor and assist with the planning of this important event.

Conference Flyer

The conference will explore issues LGBT older adults face and their journey for equality and dignity. Through keynote addresses and 18 breakouts sessions, participants will learn to recognize and remove barriers to quality healthcare and other services. These are critical services for older adults and sometimes out of reach for the underserved LGBT community.

Public Health’s LGBTQ Health Initiatives Project Manager, Jerry Mallicoat, explains why the conference is so important, “For the first time in America we have a growing population of older LGBT people who have lived quite openly when they were younger. As they age and need support services, these individuals often face bias, stigma, and discrimination from healthcare and other service providers that might not care for older LGBT adults in a way that is both culturally-competent and sensitive to their needs. Sometimes, older LGBT people feel the need to go back in the closet to get necessary services, and we need to avoid that happening so they can live affirmed lives as they age.”

The conference will feature a screening of the film Gen Silent and discussions with its producer Stu Maddox. The film chronicles the challenges of older LGBT individuals seeking help and support as they age. Other prominent speakers include Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, national leader of LGBT initiatives for AARP, and Dr. Jason Flatt, from University of California San Francisco, who recently released the first major research on dementia in the LGBT community.

The registration fee to attend both days is $150, which includes up to 9.5 social worker CEUs, breakfast and lunch. Single-day registration is $75. A reduced daily rate of $20 (including breakfast and lunch) is offered to the LGBT community age 55 and older and college students.  To register, visit the Summit registration site.