Statement in Recognition of National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day
WASHINGTON — In anticipation of May 16, National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day, David J. Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, released the following statement:
“National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day comes at a time when older Americans are especially vulnerable. While much is known about how COVID-19 disproportionately endangers older adults, we must recognize that there is little known about how LGBTQ elders, and especially Black LGBTQ and same gender loving elders, are uniquely impacted.
“Older LGBTQ/SGL adults have lived through decades of assaults on our communities, including many laws—some of which are still in place— that deny us the ability to form legally recognized families and adopt. As a result, many older LGBTQ/SGL adults lack the family and social security to be taken care of as they age.
“Black LGBTQ/SGL people live primarily in the South, where many states still do not have nondiscrimination protections in employment and healthcare access. As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on Black communities, we should take this day to remember and fight for the Black LGBT elders who can still be denied healthcare due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.”