Intersectionality in LGBTQIA2+ Aging: Why One Story Is Never Enough

Aging Is Not One‑Size‑Fits‑All.

Aging is something we all share—but how we experience it is shaped by who we are, where we live, and how the world has treated us along the way. For LGBTQIA2+ older adults, aging is never just about getting older. It’s about navigating systems, spaces, and services that were often never designed with us in mind.

When we talk about LGBTQIA2+ aging, it’s important to say this clearly: there is no single story.

What Intersectionality Means in Later Life

Intersectionality reminds us that our identities overlap. A Black lesbian elder in rural North Carolina may face very different barriers than a white gay man in an urban area. A transgender older adult navigating healthcare may encounter challenges that a cisgender peer never experiences. Someone aging with a disability may need support services that are inaccessible—or unavailable.

These overlapping identities affect access to:

• Healthcare and affirming providers

• Housing and transportation

• Income stability and benefits

• Safe, welcoming community spaces

Why This Matters for LGBTQIA2+ Older Adults

Many LGBTQIA2+ elders came of age during times of criminalization, discrimination, and invisibility. For those who also experienced racism, poverty, ableism, or transphobia, those impacts accumulate over a lifetime.

If we ignore intersectionality, we risk leaving the most marginalized members of our community behind.

Building Inclusive Aging Spaces—Together

At Carolina Aging Alliance, we believe aging services must reflect real lives. That

means listening first, centering community voices, and designing programs that are inclusive by intention—not accident.

Celebrate Us: Community in Action

At Celebrate Us! Festival & Health Expo on May 17, intersectionality comes to life—through community, culture, wellness, and joy. Celebrate Us is a space where LGBTQIA2+ older adults of all backgrounds are welcomed, affirmed, and celebrated.

Call to Action

Join us at Celebrate Us on May 17, get involved in our programs, and help us build aging spaces where everyone belongs.