Haaland Celebrates LGBTQ+ Protections Included in Older Americans Act Reauthorization

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Deb Haaland, a Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, celebrated the inclusion of several LGBTQ+ measures in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The reauthorization will require that state and local departments who manage services for aging Americans be held accountable for undertaking outreach to the LGBTQ+ community who need services. It will also hold them responsible for engaging in both data collection and reporting on the needs of LGBTQ+ older people and whether they are meeting those needs.

The requirements echo provisions in the Elder Pride Act, a bill Congresswomen Deb Haaland and Suzanne Bonamici introduced in April of 2019, but are not as extensive. The Elder Pride Act seeks to address a lifetime of discrimination that has resulted in less financial security, more social isolation, and specific healthcare needs for older LGBTQ+ Americans and amends the Older American Act to address the needs of older LGBTQ+ Americans and make necessary investments to support them.

"During these times, we must ensure all communities have the resources they need, but previous versions of the Older Americans Act didn't include the needs of our LGBTQ+ community. I'm happy these protections are moving forward, but this is not enough. I will continue my fight for equality by passing the Equality Act," said Congresswoman Deb Haaland.

Equality New Mexico and SAGE joined Haaland celebrating the updates to the Older Americans Act

"Younger generations of transgender and queer people in New Mexico should celebrate the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act -- especially Congresswoman Deb Haaland's work to ensure that our LGBT elders are protected. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous people who catalyzed the movement which has earned us the rights and liberties we all enjoy today." -- Adrian Carver, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico.

"In these challenging times, SAGE celebrates the reauthorization of the first LGBT-inclusive Older Americans Act. In particular, we want to acknowledge and thank Rep. Haaland for her leadership in the House in advocating for the inclusion of LGBT older people. Thanks to Rep. Haaland's steadfast commitment to the Stonewall Generation, members of the community can look forward to aging with the dignity they deserve." -- SAGE

Specifically, the Elder Pride Act would:

Establish an office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health in HHS, including an Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Policy, to increase access to health care for LGBTQ+ older Americans;
Support research on the LGBTQ+ aging population to address the challenges the elder LGBTQ+ community faces, with an emphasis on those in rural areas;
Create and administer a grant program to help support organizations that serve older Americans conducting programs that connect LGBTQ+ seniors with their non-LGBTQ+ peers and local LGBTQ+ organizations; and
Make grant funding available to organizations to conduct training programs to serve LGBTQ+ seniors and other vulnerable populations.

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