“The Trump Administration’s despicable attacks on the most vulnerable continues with this recent attempt to make LGBTQ elders and LGBTQ people with disabilities disappear. LGBTQ people deserve to be seen, counted and considered—not ignored, maligned and erased. The information collected in these surveys is vital in making good policy and funding decisions for everyone,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.

The surveys are the National Survey of Older American Act Participants and a reporting form for the Centers for Independent Living. LGBTQ older Americans are more likely to be living in poverty, and are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health outcomes. Nearly half of LGBTQ older people are living with a disability, and transgender older adults report particularly high rates of disabilities. At the same time, LGB people are more likely to be living with a disability than non-LGB people, and experience disabilities at younger ages.

“This is often the way things begin in dictatorial regimes. Vulnerable populations are treated as a threat and actions are taken to dehumanize them or degrade them. The problem of course is that we are everywhere—and we will not be edited out or erased. We will resist,” said Carey.

Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org