SAGE USA: SAGE Praises Congressional Leaders Advocating on Behalf of LGBT EldersBy Staff
[Washington, D.C.] Today U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) honored Ruthie Berman and the late Connie Kurtz for their tireless activism in the LGBT community. In addition to acknowledging their efforts, Bonamici, along with her colleagues Ted Deutch (FL-22) and Charlie Christ (FL-13), advocated for the passage of the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act, a bill introduced in 2017 to better serve LGBT elders, who face higher rates of poverty, pronounced social isolation, and less access to health care due to barriers in the aging system and past discrimination.
The bill, endorsed by SAGE, would increase federal support to millions of LGBT elders through the Older Americans Act (OAA), the country’s largest vehicle for funding and delivering services to older people in the U.S. It is expected to be re-introduced next year for a vote. “SAGE applauds representatives Bonamici, Deutch and Christ for championing the inclusion of LGBT elders in the Older Americans Act,” says SAGE CEO Michael Adams. “This is a well-deserved honor and tribute to our beloved Ruthie and Connie, LGBT trailblazers who spent decades fighting on behalf of equal treatment for the LGBT community. SAGE will continue to advocate for this important legislation and for more federal policies that address the needs of our LGBT elders, and enable them to age with the dignity and respect.” |
