In recognition of the fourth annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day on September 18th, The Graying of AIDS teamed up with the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging to highlight some of the extraordinary LGBT-identified older adults who have participated in the creation of our project thus far. The multimedia trailer features previously unpublished materials, including a portrait of Robert Brewster, age 75, of New York, NY.
The piece was featured on their newly launched “HIV & Aging Resources” page along with the feature we produced for AARP on HIV discrimination in long term care, and a link to our pilot project magazine, The Graying of AIDS: Stories from an Aging Epidemic. By featuring our materials in this way, the Resource Center is helping us ensure that the extraordinary stories shared with us for this project will reach a broader audience; we hope this will also expand the range of individuals and organizations who use The Graying of AIDS project materials to jumpstart critical conversations and, eventually, help to improve and expand services for LGBT older adults living with HIV/AIDS.
For those not yet in the know, The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging — established last year with support from the US Department of Health and Human Services — is “the country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults.” A partnership between a diverse group of organizations under the leadership of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) has worked to establish this exceptional resource, which has been organized to be user-friendly and useful for aging providers, LGBT organizations, and LGBT older adults themselves. We look forward to continuing to work with the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging to illuminate the experiences of older LGBT adults living with HIV and to promote the kinds of high quality, coordinated services and resources that can contribute to their health, wellness, and ongoing engagement in our communities.