Age-friendly tucson, arizona, and equity

ADVOCATING FOR LGBTQI+ INCLUSION Southern Arizona Senior Pride has had a consistent presence in the ELDER Alliance, which played a sizable role in bringing Tucson's age-friendly plan to

fruition. Senior Pride’s efforts align with the "Respect and Social Inclusion" domain in the 8 Domains of Livability. “PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTQI+ PEOPLE ARE

LONG-STANDING CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BARRIERS TO EQUITABLE AND SAFE ACCESS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SERVICES." _— Lavina Tomer, Southern Arizona Senior Pride_ Southern Arizona Senior

Pride members show their pride. COURTESY PHOTO Along with other community partners, the organization works to reduce social isolation, resist ageism, promote safety and authenticity, further

cultural diversity and increase engagement of older adults in the community. Senior Pride is active in policy and program discussions in order to build relationships and integrate the needs

of LGBTQI+ older adults into mainstream service organizations. Senior Pride's efforts to keep LGBTQI+ elders engaged and less isolated have been intensified during the pandemic. 

"Our efforts to build connections with other senior-serving organizations have been made with the intention of normalizing the presence of LGBTQI+ people as equal members of the

community," says Tomer. "Partner organizations are interested in learning how to welcome and serve older LGBTQI+ adults as well as learning about our community’s history and

culture. Through these relationships, some of our partners have made changes in their use of language, surveys, websites and messaging to better support the LGBTQI+ older adult

community." TAILORED PROGRAMMING Southern Arizona Senior Pride provides multiple ways for LGBTQI+ older adults to engage. It hosts monthly gatherings, support groups, advanced care

planning workshops, networking and speakers (now via Zoom). It publishes a bimonthly newsletter, _The Senior Forum_, which is distributed widely in print and online. The organization also

sponsors educational and social events focused on health and well-being and arts and culture. "To reduce social isolation we offer the Community Cares program in which trained

volunteers visit — over the phone during COVID — once a week to talk, read aloud, write letters and play games," Tomer explains, adding that volunteers can also provide information

about LGBTQI+ services and resources. Southern Arizona Senior Pride collaborates with the Pima Council on Aging to deliver Visibility Matters, a program that provides cultural competency

training to staff at long-term care facilities, senior centers, in-home care provider organizations and others who serve LGBTQI+ older adults. MOVING FORWARD "We're consulting with

other groups about how we can be more inclusive of communities of color," says Tomer. "In 2021 we hope to educate and engage our board, volunteers and participants in learning

about disparities and intersectionality concerning racial and ethnic inequities as well as implementing services, programming and outreach efforts that reflect that understanding.” RELATED

RESOURCES AARP LINKS More from AARP.org/Livable  Use the dropdown to choose a livability topic. Select a Subject Visit another community: Age-Friendly Network Communities and Equity

_Reported by Mary Kay Bailey  |  Fall 2020  | Population data from the U.S. Census_