State Senate Passes Bill Prioritizing LGBTQ Seniors for Programs and Services

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State lawmakers have passed a new bill that could help direct more services and programs towards older LGBTQ people and seniors living with HIV/AIDS.

The bill, S78A, would include those individuals in the state’s definition of “greatest social need” under the Older Americans Act of 1965, a law providing resources to senior populations across the nation. The updated definition covers need “caused by non-economic factors” such as cultural or social issues that “restrict an individual’s ability to perform normal daily tasks or that threaten his or her capacity to live independently.”

The measure is intended to put queer seniors in a better position to receive services and participate in programs suitable for their unique needs. The new legislation clarifies the importance of supporting a diverse range of older individuals, including seniors who are low-income, disabled, at risk of homelessness, or live in rural areas, as well as seniors with English as their second language. The bill’s language outlines the need for services based on “isolation caused by, among other things, racial and ethnic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or HIV status.”