>> IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR SINCE THE DOORS OPENED AT THE PRIDE, BOSTON’S FIRST LGBTQ+ AFFIRMING INCOME RESTRICTED SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX.

LOCATED IN HYDE PARK, THIS FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING NOW HOUSES 74 UNITS IN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERING A SAFE HAVEN FOR QUEER ELDERS TO AGE WITH DIGNITY.

WHILE THE PRIDE IS A MILESTONE WE ARE CELEBRATING, IT ALSO REVEALS A DEEPER TRUTH.

MANY RESIDENTS ARE WHITE.

BUT FOR BLACK QUEER ELDERS, THE PATH TO SAFE AFFIRMING HOUSING IS FAR MORE COMPLICATED.

BLACK LGBTQ+ AMERICANS HAVE LONG BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SOCIAL CHANGE.

PEOPLE LIKE POLLY MURRAY, BY YARD RESTAURANT, MARCIA P JOHNSTON, NORIS HERNDON, AND SO MANY OTHERS LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR BOTH THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND LGBTQ MOVEMENTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO AGING, QUEER PEOPLE OF COLOR REMAIN AMONG THE LEAST PROTECTED COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS LEGACY OF EXCLUSION RUNS DEEP.

FROM THE GOVERNMENT’S DELAYED RESPONSE TO THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, TO POLICIES LIKE DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL.

QUEER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BLACK QUEER PEOPLE, WERE DENIED ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES, HOUSING, AND HEALTH CARE.

MANY DID NOT EVEN LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BECOME SENIOR CITIZENS.

AND THOSE WHO DID OFTEN FACE THE COMPOUNDED DISCRIMINATION OF RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AND AGEISM.

BLACK QUEER ELDERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY, EXPERIENCE HOUSING AND SECURITY AND LACK ACCESS TO CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE.

THE NEED FOR LGBTQ+ AFFIRMING SENIOR HOUSING IS URGENT.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 1.1 MILLION QUEER OLDER ADULTS IN THE U.S., AND THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 7 MILLION BY 2030.

DESPITE THIS, THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 1500 LGBTQ AFFIRMING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS ACROSS 20 STATES.

NEARLY 40% OF QUEER OLDER ADULTS LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE AND 49% OF THEIR HOMES COMPARED TO 65% OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.

IN A MATCHED PAIR TEST ACROSS 10 STATES, 48% OF SAME-SEX COUPLES EXPERIENCED ADVERSE TREATMENTS WHEN SEEKING SENIOR HOUSING.

23% OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS REPORTED HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IN THE PAST YEAR.

DESPITE ITS SHORTCOMINGS, PLACES LIKE THE PRIDE ARE A SOLID START.

AND THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE IS MARY’S HOUSE FOR OLDER ADULTS IN D.C., OPEN HOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO, TRIANGLE SQUARE IN LOS ANGELES, AND STONEWALL HOUSE IN BROOKLYN.

THESE SPACES ARE DESIGNED TO AFFIRM IDENTITY AND OFFER COMMUNITY, BUT THERE ARE STILL TOO FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT EQUITY, WE’VE GOT TO DO MORE THAN JUST BUILD BUILDINGS.

WE MUST BUILD SYSTEMS THAT RECOGNIZE INTERSECTIONALITY, FUND WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AND PRIORITIZE THE MOST MARGINALIZED.

WE KNOW THE PROBLEM.

NOW LET’S GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.

THIS IS ROOTED.

AS BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITIES AGE, WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THERE TO BE DIGNITY IN THEIR CARE?

JOINING ME ARE THREE POWERFUL VOICES, REVEREND IRENE MUNRO, THEOLOGIAN, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST, AND COHOST OF ALL REVVED UP AT GBH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DR.

ANGELIQUE HARRIS, SOCIOLOGIST AND AUTHOR OF WOMANIST AIDS ACTIVISM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, TREY JOHNSON, CULTURAL CRITIC AND AUTHOR OF BLACK GENIUS, ESSAYS ON AN AMERICAN LEGACY.

SO NICE TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A STOP ON YOUR BOOK TOUR.

DR.

HARRIS, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WE HAD A LOT OF STATISTICS.

I’M CURIOUS HOW WE WOULD SAY SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THOSE NUMBERS?

>> PRETTY MASSIVELY.

SINCE A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT ACCESS AND PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND HEALTH CARE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT LGBTQ POPULATIONS OF COLOR, THEY HAVE LESS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE.

IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE, THAT IS AN ISSUE.

ON TOP OF THAT LOOKING AT THE DISCRIMINATION THEY ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THE WAY THEY ARE TREATED, THE WAY ACCESS TO CERTAIN MEDICATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT IS LIMITED FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT WITHIN HEALTH CARE THE ABILITY TO HAVE PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR YOU AND IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

A MAJOR ISSUE LOOKING AT ELDERLY PEOPLE AND POPULATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN QUEER POPULATIONS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE THE SAME TYPES OF PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING AS OTHERS WOULD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY LIKE TO HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN OR IT BECOMES AN ISSUE AS PEOPLE AGE.

IT IS REALLY ABOUT ACCESS AND THE WAY THEY ARE TREATED IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

>> REVEREND IRENE, IS SOME OF IT SPEAKING TO YOUR LIFE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN MY POPULATION, THERE IS ANOTHER POPULATION BEING OUT.

I AM OF THAT GENERATION WHERE WE STILL DON’T TRUST DOCTORS ALTHOUGH I’M MARRIED TO ONE.

BUT NONETHELESS, THE WHOLE IDEA OF CAN I BE OUT WITH THIS DR.

AND TELL MY HISTORY WITHOUT SHAMING ME?

ARE WE INSCRIBING THE TRAUMA?

OTHER PEOPLE WE TALK ABOUT, DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

WE WORRY ABOUT CAN WE BE OUT?

ASSISTED LIVING PLACES IS ANOTHER ONE.

PEOPLE GO BACK INTO THE CLOSET, ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE CHURCH.

[LAUGHTER] YOU ARE WELCOME TO WHERE I PASTOR, BUT THAT IS AN ISSUE OF HOW DO YOU AS AN ELDERLY PERSON FIND THE CHURCH AS YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE STRAIGHT BLACK FOLKS AND STREET PEOPLE IN GENERAL, THAT IS WHERE YOU GO AND FIND COMMUNITY AND THE OUTREACH YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHAT ARE SOME INSTANCES OVER TIME WHERE WE HAVE SEEN BLACK QUEER COMMUNITIES IN THE FACE OF BEING DENIED CARE IN THESE MORE TRADITIONAL SPACES?

>> WE WERE ALL IN THE GREEN ROOM TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

INSTANCES LIKE SENECA VILLA WHERE BACK IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE -- BUT I THINK WEST PHILLY HAS A DEEP TRADITION OF COMMUNITY CARE AROUND YOUR PEOPLE.

IT HAS BEEN HUGE FOR US FOR A LONG TIME.

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT SOLO RATIFICATION WE EXPERIENCED AND WE KNOW ABOUT.

WHETHER IT IS GENTRIFICATION OR TO ROLL BACK TO TRADITIONAL VALUES DISRUPTING THE IDEA OF LIVING THE LIFE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN PATTERNS OF OPPORTUNITIES YOU HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THIS IN YOUR MONOLOGUE.

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THESE?

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I’M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TOUCHES ON A LOT OF PEOPLE’S LIVES IS THIS IDEA OF ACCESSIBLE THIRD SPACES.

WE ARE LOSING SO MANY COMMUNITY SPACES.

THE KIND OF ENTRENCHED ISOLATION THAT WE KNOW ESPECIALLY AFFECTS OLDER PEOPLE AND QUEER PEOPLE ON TOP OF THAT.

THAT IS WHAT I’M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT, HOW WE FIND WAYS TO GET BACK TO RE-INSTILLING SOME OF THOSE CULTURAL SINEWS OF THIRD SPACES.

>> WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY SEEING THAT LEVEL OF FERVOR AROUND LGBTQ+ EXISTENCE TODAY TOO, BUT WHAT DOES THE JOY LOOK LIKE?

AS PEOPLE ARE FACING THE SOCIOPOLITICAL CLIMATE, WHERE IS THE JOY TO BE FOUND?

>> I TALK ABOUT IT A LOT IN MY BOOK.

I HAVE A CHAPTER ON PERFORMANCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERFORMANCE.

I THINK THAT IS A LONG-STANDING HISTORY IN QUEER CULTURE.

BUT IT IS NOW MORE THAN EVER.

I LOOK AT WHERE THERE ARE COLLECTIVES LIKE BACK IN PHILLY I’M ALWAYS GOING TO SHOUT OUT PHILLY.

BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY HUB CULTURAL COLLECTIVES WHERE IT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE COMMUNITY SPACES TOGETHER TO PERFORM.

LIKE THE BLACK STAR FILM FESTIVAL WHICH HELPS RAISE NARRATIVES AROUND ALL TYPES OF MARGINALIZATION IN LIFE, BUT I THINK BLACK QUEER VOICES IN PARTICULAR.

THE ROOTS PICNIC IS THE OPEN CANVAS KIND OF SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER.

YOU CAN ALL A CART DESIGN THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE YOU WANT INSIDE OF THIS WIDE OPEN SPACE.

EVERYONE IS POURING INTO THAT.

A LOT OF WHAT I’M HEARING WHEN I TEASE OUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THIS FERVENT NEED MORE THAN EVER FOR CONNECTION.

IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT -- MY CONCERN AROUND THE STATE OF THE WORLD NOWADAYS ON A SMALLER SCALE IS THE WAYS WE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITIZED LIVES, EVEN IN AN AFFINITY TYPE OF WAY, STILL CURDLED THIS IDEA THAT OUR INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT AND LIFE IS WHAT MATTERS MOST.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF CURATING CROSS-CULTURAL, CROSS IDENTITY EXPERIENCES.

THE HOUSING THING YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT CONCERNS ME.

>> DO YOU THINK AT LARGE WE ARE BECOMING MORE INCLUSIVE?

>> I THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH DIVISION THERE HAS BEEN BETWEEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND BLACK QUEER PEOPLE.

AND EVEN DURING BLACK LIVES MATTER, WE HEARD RALLYING CRIES, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BLACK TRANS LIVES AND BLACK QUEER LIVES.

HAS THAT GOTTEN ABRIDGED?

>> I DON’T THINK SO.

>> NOT JUDGING FROM THE REACTION OF THE TABLE.

>> THIS IS WORK MEET AS MEN HAVE TO DO, WE AS BLACK FOLK HAVE TO DO.

OF THE MANY THINGS YOU CAN TAKE FROM THE MOST RECENT ELECTION, WE SAW PART OF THE WAY THE RIGHT ACCORDED A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE WAS AROUND CLEARNESS, AROUND ANTI-CLEARNESS, THERE IS A SCARCITY ACTIVATION AND DIGNITY ACTIVATION THAT HAS BEEN FESTERED AND ACTIVATED INSIDE OF A LOT OF BLACK MALE THOUGHT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT BLACK MEN AND THE WAY WE HAVE DRIFTED, ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE ABLE TO DO IT IS TO ACTIVATE THIS VERY PRESENT BUT LATENT TYPE OF HOMOPHOBIC FEAR AROUND CLEARNESS.

>> IT HAS SUCH CURRENCY AT THIS MOMENT.

WE HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL.

WE HAVE SOME ENTRENCHED HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TOXIC MASCULINITY, COMPULSORY HETEROSEXUALITY, THE INTERSECTION OF THOSE TWO AND HOW TODAY IT IS ALMOST ON STEROIDS.

>> IT IS ALSO GLORIFIED IN SUCH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT -- ENTERTAINMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

EVEN WHAT OTHER MUSICAL GENRE TALKS ABOUT WOMEN OVER QUEER PEOPLE IN THOSE TYPES OF WAYS, EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND DEROGATORY WAYS.

THAT IS PART OF IT.

>> BUT YOU WILL AGE BETTER, WHICH IS WHAT I SAY, AND MORE IN COMMUNITY THAN MY GENERATION.

I’M THE GENERATION WHERE YOU COULD NOT EVEN UTTER THE WORD.

YOU CAN BE OUT AND FIND FOLKS IN A WAY THAT -- MY WAY OF BEING WAS SO IN THE CLOSET AND THAT YOU ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CLOSET.

>> HOW DID YOU THINK ABOUT AGING -- I DON’T KNOW HOW OLD YOU WERE WHEN YOU CAME OUT, BUT HOW DID YOU THINK ABOUT AGING AROUND THAT TIME?

>> I DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL, HONESTLY.

IT DID NOT CROSS MY MIND.

IT NEVER REALLY OCCURRED TO ME.

IT WAS ALSO WELL BEFORE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING CHILDREN OR ANYTHING.

MY FOCUS WAS ON WHAT MY CAREER WOULD BE.

THAT WAS PRIMARILY IT.

EVEN COMING OUT.

IF I DIRECTLY WOULD END UP WITH A PARTNER AND THEY DO BENEFIT -- I DID NOT THINK ABOUT AGING IN THE SAME WAY BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY I DID NOT REALLY KNOW ANY ELDERLY LGBT -- LGBTQ PEOPLE.

IT IS A VERY AGEIST POPULATION.

A CULTURE I SHOULD SAY.

QUEER CLUBS ARE VERY -- IT IS VERY DISCRIMINATORY.

THEY TREAT PEOPLE WHO WERE OLDER A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY WITHIN THE SPACES.

IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE WHERE YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE SO IT IS HARD TO ENVISION WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

>> THAT IS AMAZING.

THE GENERATIONAL GAP.

I’M GLAD.

YOU CAN WORRY ABOUT A CAREER.

I WAS NOT SURE I COULD HAVE ONE.

WHEN I WAS APPLYING TO SEMINARY, THE TWO BLACK SEMINARIES I WANTED TO GO TO, I DID NOT GET IN.

YOU CAN SAY IT IS ACADEMIC, BUT RAISES SUSPICION WHEN YOU GET INTO HARVARD.

BUT THE POINT WAS I DID NOT EVEN KNOW IF I COULD HAVE A CAREER OR IF I WOULD BE ORDAINED OR HAVE A CHURCH THAT WOULD ORDAIN ME.

I HAD TWO STRIKES AGAINST ME.

I WAS A WOMAN IN THE BLACK CHURCH AND A QUEER WOMAN IN THE BLACK CHURCH.

SO I THOUGHT OF AGING VERY MUCH ALONE.

THEN THEY SENT ME THERE.

>> WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

WE WILL HAVE TO STOP THE CONVERSATION THERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR WORK.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE YOU BACK AND TALK MORE ABOUT THIS.

BLACK LGBTQ ELDERS HAVE SHAPED OUR MOVEMENTS, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY AND IT IS TIME WE SHAPE A FUTURE THAT HONORS THEM.

STAY WITH US.

>> BUNKER HILL COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S INSPIRING DREAMS OR THROUGH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS.

LEARN MORE AT BH CICI.EDU.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO AGE WITH DIGNITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF RACE, CLEARNESS, AND COMMUNITY.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE?

GBH NEWS TAKES YOU INSIDE THE PRIDE.

BOSTON’S FIRST LGBTQ AFFIRMING SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX, FOR AN INTIMATE LOOK AT THE LIVES, HOPES, AND CHALLENGES OF ITS RESIDENTS.

HERE IS A PREVIEW OF OUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY WHICH WILL BE RELEASED OCTOBER 2.

>> I REALLY CRAVED THE IDEA OF DEVELOPING QUEER COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST AND CREATE OUR OWN HAPPINESS.

>> I’M HERE TO RAISE MY VOICE FOR THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE A VOICE.

>> I’M NOT DOING ANYTHING ELSE.

I’M GORGEOUS ALREADY.

>> THIS IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO BE WHO YOU ARE.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AGING IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN JUST HOUSING, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LEGACY, SURVIVAL, BELONGING.

PAUL GLASS KNOWS THIS FIRSTHAND AS EXECUTIVE OF LGBTQ+ ELDERS OF COLOR AND A VOICE FEATURED IN THE GBH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY ON THE PRIDE.

HE’S BEEN WORKING TO ENSURE BLACK AND BROWN QUEER ELDERS AREN’T JUST REMEMBERED, BUT CARED FOR.

I SAT DOWN WITH PAUL TO TALK ABOUT THE GAPS IN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, THE CHALLENGES IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES AND WHAT IT MEANS TO AGE IN SOLIDARITY.

>> TAKE US BACK TO THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE ELDER CARE FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE OF COLOR WAS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDED URGENT ATTENTION.

>> THIS PROBABLY GOES BACK AT LEAST 10 YEARS OR MORE WHEN I WAS REALIZING OR EMBRACING THE FACT I’M REALLY A SENIOR.

>> WE’VE ALL GOT TO COME TO TERMS LIKE THAT SOMEDAY.

>> AND IT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE BEFORE THAT.

I’M 75 YEARS OLD.

I’M GOING BACK A LITTLE WAYS AND REALIZING I’M COMING INTO SENIOR HOOD AND I NEED TO LOOK AT AND SEE HOW I’M EMBRACED AS A SENIOR.

BOTH BY THE COMMUNITY, FROM HEALTH CARE, OTHER THINGS.

IT KIND OF STARTED FROM THERE.

I GOT CONNECTED WITH THE LGBT AGING PROJECT AND IT STARTED OUT WITH MYSELF AND SOME OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE VERY CONNECTED IN THE BIPOC LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND WE CAME UP WITH THIS ELDERS OF COLOR OUTREACH INITIATIVE.

IT KIND OF SPUN OFF FROM THERE.

THAT WAS LIKE 13 YEARS AGO OR SO.

I’M GOING STRONG EVER SINCE.

WE HOST SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT EVENTS FOR LGBTQ+ ELDERS OF COLOR, WE’VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL MACHINATIONS AND A LOT OF CHANGES.

BUT WE ARE STILL HERE ALIVE AND WELL AND PROGRAMMING IS MOVING FORWARD.

EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICING OUR BIPOC LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

>> IS THERE A PART OF YOU ARE AMONG THE COMMUNITY OF ELDERS YOU WORK WITH THAT THOUGHT YOU WOULD GROW TO BE THIS AGE?

>> I CAN SPEAK CERTAINLY FOR MYSELF.

I CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK I WAS GOING TO LIVE BEYOND 40.

I’M CURRENTLY LIVING WITH HIV AND HAVE BEEN SINCE DIAGNOSED IN 1987.

I’M KIND OF FEELING LIKE AN ANOMALY.

BUT I’M IN GREAT HEALTH NOW, THANK GOD FOR THE MEDICAL SCIENCE THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO LIFE-SAVING DRUGS THAT HAS GIVEN ME LIFE, AND I HAVE BEEN ON A REGIMEN OF MEDICATIONS FOR DECADES.

IT HAS BEEN WORKING, YOU SEE ME NOW, AN EXPRESSION OF BLACK DON’T CRACK.

>> SO NOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PLACE LIKE THE PRIDE PROVIDING A SPACE WHERE LGBTQ+ ELDERS CAN AID IN COMMUNITY AND WITH THAT SUPPORT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHY IS IT SO SIGNIFICANT?

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

ONE BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY SENIOR HOUSING FOR LGBTQ FOLKS AND NEW ENGLAND.

IT IS HISTORIC, SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED AND FOLKS ARE STILL WRAPPING THEIR BRAINS AROUND THE FACT IT EXISTS.

IT IS A PLACE WHERE COMMUNITY MEANS SOMETHING.

PARTICULARLY THE LGBTQ AGING POPULATION.

MY WISH IS THERE WERE MORE BIPOC LGBTQ FOLKS WHO ARE RESIDENTS, BUT A LOT OF THE SELECTION PROCESS DID NOT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PRIDE ITSELF.

THERE WAS A LOTTERY SYSTEM MANAGED THROUGH THE CITY OF BOSTON.

DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THE SELECTION PROCESS.

THAT SAID, THE PRIDE EMBRACES DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF EOC AS WE CALL OURSELVES, LGBTQ+ ELDERS OF COLOR.

WE HAVE BEEN -- THEY HAVE BEEN EMBRACING TO OUR ORGANIZATION, POPULATION, AND THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY WE REPRESENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY WELCOMING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>> PEOPLE MAY SAY WHY CAN’T THESE ELDERS GO TO OTHER HOUSING COMMUNITIES?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE ONE DEDICATED TO LGBTQ+ ELDERS?

>> I WILL PUT IT IN THE SENSE THE PRIDE IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY LGBTQ+.

IT WOULD BE DISCRIMINATORY BASED ON DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.

BUT IT IS PREDOMINANTLY THAT.

IT IS NOT THAT ELDERS WHO ARE AGING AND NOT THOUGHT OF OUR RESIDENTS OF OTHER AGING COMPLEXES OR RESIDENCES, IT IS JUST THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS FELT AS THOUGH THEY ARE WELCOME.

OFTEN TIMES THEY HAVE MARGINALIZED FOR RIDICULED OR BULLIED OR OSTRACIZED.

AND THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND THAT FELT THE SENSE OF SAFETY BEYOND JUST BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY FEEL THEY ARE IN A SAFE SPACE AND THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT.

NOT JUST A SAFE SPACE FOR LIVING, BUT ALSO WITHIN A SAFE COMMUNITY.

>> DOES THAT SAY THAT THERE CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN OTHER SENIOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HOUSE MORE LGBTQ+ ELDERS?

DO YOU THINK HAVING MORE DIVERSITY WILL HAVE AN ADDED SENSE OF SECURITY GIVEN RACISM STILL EXISTS IN SENIOR HOUSING?

>> IT IS KIND OF TWOFO -- IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL, BUT IT IS ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY.

EVEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PRIDE, UNDER THE GUISE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT AFFORDABILITY COMES DOWN TO AFFORDABLE 2 -- IT IS NOT NECESSARILY AFFORDABLE TO FOCUS ON SMALL OR FIXED INCOMES.

THERE IS THAT POPULATION WITHIN OUR BIPOC LGBTQ COMMUNITY WHERE NOT EVERYONE HAS A PENSION.

MOST WORKING ON A FIXED INCOME FROM SOCIAL SECURITY AND OFTEN TIMES THAT IS NOT A LOT.

THEY HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THEIR MEANS.

AFFORDABILITY IS RELATIVE SOMETIMES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT TERM GETS THROWN AROUND A LOT.

BUT WE HAVE TO DISSECT IT TO THE DEGREE IT WILL BENEFIT FOLKS WHO REALLY NEED IT.

>> THINKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN YOU AND WATCHING THIS, AND THEY HAVE THEIR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF THEM, BUT WE ALL NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AS WE AGE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF US.

THAT IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO BUT BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG LGBTQ+ PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THINKING ABOUT AGING?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE EMBRACE IT, THE YOUNGEST FOLKS, AND THAT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL YOUNG PEOPLE, PEOPLE UNDER 50, AND EVERYONE WHO IS UNDER 50 IN MY MIND IS A YOUNGER PERSON.

>> I WILL TAKE IT.

>> BUT THEY ATTEND OUR EVENTS, VERY RESPECTFUL AND THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF OUR MOVEMENT.

AND THEY RECOGNIZE THEY ARE GOING TO GET TO BE OUR AGE AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, MANY OF THEM ARE JUST BEING RESPECTFUL BECAUSE THEY WERE TAUGHT TO RESPECT THEIR ELDERS.

WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT I CAN RECALL WHERE EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS COME INTO OUR SPHERE HAS BEEN DISRESPECTFUL IN ANY WAY.

WE EMBRACE THEM AND THEY EMBRACE US.

MANY OF THEM COME TO US AND ARE LOOKING FOR THE WISDOM BECAUSE WE HAVE LIVED SOME LIVES AND WE’VE HAD EXPERIENCES THEY ARE JUST EMBARKING ON.

AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ADVICE ABOUT IT.

THAT IS KIND OF THE CONNECTION WE HAVE.

GRANTED YOUNG PEOPLE, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS UNDER 25.

THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO WAS BE AROUND OLDER FOLKS OTHER THAN MY PARENTS -- BUT I THINK IT IS A NEW AGE AND I’M HOPEFUL MORE YOUNG FOLKS WILL EMBRACE OUR AGING COMMUNITY AND RECOGNIZE AND BE THERE TO HELP US.

AT SOME POINT WE MAY HAVE TO RELY ON THEM FOR THE SERVICES WE HAVE.

CARING FOR US, MOST ON HEALTHWISE AND OTHER -- THAT IS THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

JUST BE OPEN, BE WELCOMING, RECOGNIZE YOUR AUNTIS AND UNCLES.

>> THANK YOU TO REVEREND IVORY MUNRO, DR.

HARRIS, AND TREY JOHNSON SHARING INSIGHTS, TRUTH, AND THEIR VISION FOR WHAT AGING WITH DIGNITY CAN AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN BLACK QUEER COMMUNITIES.

YOUR VOICES REMIND US CARE IS NOT JUST A POLICY ISSUE, IT IS A MORAL ONE.

COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST A CONCEPT, IT IS A COMMITMENT.

SPECIAL THANKS TO PAUL GLASSFORD JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND GIVING FURTHER INSIGHT ON HOW TO WORK WITH AND WITHOUT SYSTEMS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES YOU CARE ABOUT.

TO EVERYONE, THIS CONVERSATION DOES NOT END HERE.

IT IS A CONVERSATION, A REMINDER TO BUILD SPACES THAT HONOR EVERY INTERSECTION OF IDENTITY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR GOLDEN YEARS.

YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH THE SHOW BY FOLLOWING US AT GBH NEWS ROOTED ON INSTAGRAM OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER.

I’M PARIS ALSTON, REMEMBER TO STAY ROOTED, STAY IN COMMUNITY, AND AS ALWAYS, STAY TUNED.

♪