Listening, Loving, and Showing Up: How to Be an Ally to LGBTQIA2+ Older Adults
- Carolina Aging Alliance
- Dec 30, 2025
- 2 min read
Being an ally to LGBTQIA2+ older adults isn’t just kind—it’s powerful. Many individuals in the community have lived through decades of discrimination, invisibility, and resilience. Today, they deserve connection, respect, and advocacy. Whether you're a younger ally, caregiver, or senior service provider, here are three meaningful ways to get started:
How to be an Ally to LGBTQIA2+ Older Adults.
1. Listen and Learn
Start with your ears and heart open. LGBTQIA2+ elders have lived through historic moments—from the Stonewall uprising to the AIDS crisis—and their stories are rich with courage and wisdom. Listening is more than polite—it’s transformative.
Ask open-ended questions about their lives, identities, and experiences.
Avoid assumptions—not every LGBTQ elder is “out,” and many have faced rejection or trauma.
Honor their stories by being present, patient, and respectful.
Educate yourself on LGBTQ history and aging issues to better understand their context.
Listening builds trust, deepens empathy, and lays the foundation for authentic connection and advocacy.
2. Volunteer with LGBTQ Elder Advocacy Groups
Want to make a real impact? Get involved with organizations that support LGBTQIA2+ older adults. Volunteering can take many forms, depending on your interests and skills:
One-on-one support: Help with errands, tech assistance, or companionship.
Community engagement: Assist with social programming, meal delivery, or wellness checks.
Advocacy and leadership: Serve on boards, join advisory councils, or speak to elected officials about inclusive aging policies.
Groups like SAGE USA, Carolina Aging Alliance, a collaborator with SAGE USA, and local LGBTQ centers offer opportunities to connect and contribute. Find a mission that speaks to you—and show up.
3. Speak Up and Keep Showing Up
Allyship means action. It’s about using your voice, your vote, and your visibility to support LGBTQIA2+ elders.
Challenge discrimination when you see it—in healthcare, housing, or social spaces.
Share resources and amplify LGBTQ aging issues in your networks.
Attend Pride events and inclusive gatherings with older adults.
Support inclusive policies that protect LGBTQ rights across the lifespan.
And most importantly—keep showing up. Allyship isn’t a one-time act. It’s a lifelong commitment to love, listen, and lead with empathy.
By supporting LGBTQIA2+ older adults through connection, advocacy, and consistent presence, allies help build a world where aging is inclusive, joyful, and full of pride.
When we listen, volunteer, and speak up, we help create a world where LGBTQIA2+ older adults can age with dignity, connection, and joy.
Inclusive aging isn’t just a goal—it’s a shared responsibility that starts with each of us.
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