From Flags to Action: Making Inclusivity Meaningful for LGBTQ+ Elders

with Sherrill Wayland,

Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Partnerships, SAGE

This week on the Art of Aging, host Rev. Beth Long-Higgins welcomes Sherrill Wayland, Senior Director of Special Initiatives and Partnerships at SAGE, a leading organization for LGBTQ+ older adults. They discuss the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, ongoing education, and genuine inclusivity beyond symbolic gestures. Sherrill introduces key initiatives like the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging and the Long-Term Care Equality Index. She also shares personal reflections on aging and the role of intergenerational support. The episode highlights the resilience of LGBTQ+ elders, the continuous need for advocacy and inclusive practices, and so much more.
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Notes:

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

  • Welcome Sherrill to the Podcast (1:02)
  • Engaging with the LGBTQ+ Community (2:48)
  • Refusal to Be Invisible (5:03)
  • Creating Safe Spaces (8:12)
  • Sherrill’s Journey into LGBTQ+ Advocacy (11:05)
  • Supporting Grandparents of LGBTQ+ Youth (15:03)
  • Advocacy Through Personal Connections (19:25)
  • SAGE Table Program (22:58)
  • SAGE Hear Me Program (24:12)
  • National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging (26:03)
  • Long Term Care Equality Index (27:28)
  • Abundant Aging Questions for Sherrill (30:38)
  • Final Thoughts and Takeaways (32:37)

 

Abundant Aging is a podcast series presented by United Church Homes. These shows offer ideas, information, and inspiration on how to improve our lives as we grow older. To learn more and to subscribe to the show, visit abundantagingpodcast.com. 

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