Nurturing Education and Respect through Open Dialogue

LGBT Programming for Residents

While most of the LGBT-Friendly housing standard focuses on formal policy, procedure, and staff training, it is important to engage residents directly around issues of diversity and respect. The CfA LGBT’s Social Engagement group works with senior living community staff to initiate and facilitate an open dialogue in order to nurture a safe, welcoming space for LGBT individuals.

​Our programming events also introduce residents to the resources of the Coalition for Aging LGBT, and to the North Texas LGBT community more broadly, providing options for greater social connection for LGBT seniors. Activities are geared to the needs of each community. Examples include:

• Viewings of LGBT-themed or LGBT-inclusive movies, paired with open discussion, which are effective at starting a dialogue with residents and promoting a positive and potentially new view of LGBT issues
  
  
• Coffee Talks, or other scheduled yet more informal, smaller gatherings, which are helpful for engaging conversation on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in an open, supportive setting
  
  
• Connecting residents to other LGBT events and resources in North Texas, and their county, which is done in conjunction with one of the above events, or by placing items on communities’ calendars or Facebook pages
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• Encouraging communities to provide transportation to offsite LGBT events, such as Pride Month or the Pride parade, or to a Turtle Creek Chorale concert

Betty King (CfA LGBT) presenting “Gen Silent” and facilitating open discussion with senior housing community residents.

Programming events are co-facilitated by a trained volunteer of the Coalition for Aging LGBT and a staff member of the respective community. Working together, we empower communities to be more inclusive in their program/activities planning and to host their own LGBT-oriented events in the future. 

Isolation is a common issue faced by seniors. Studies show that isolation of LGBT seniors adds an additional challenge in any type of living community. By providing a space for all viewpoints to be heard and respected, we hope to nurture open discussion and learning so that LGBT residents feel more comfortable living their authentic lives in their homes. 

By highlighting the LGBT activities in the area, more LGBT seniors learn of a variety of opportunities to connect. If someone is not mobile, we introduce resources that connect those individuals to other LGBT members who may interact through email or Facebook or be able to establish a buddy system where the isolated individual can talk or visit with others.