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Transgender Elder/SOFFA Roundtable

Sexual Violence, Elder Abuse, and Sexuality of Transgender Adults Age 50+: Results of Three Surveys

This in-depth report covers more than 300 responses from transgender people age 50+ on three surveys conducted by FORGE and/or the Transgender Aging Network. Discussion includes many narrative responses on topics such as: experiences with service providers; perceptions of the role gender may have played in the criminal targeting of the trans person; barriers to services; how fear of crime has impacted respondents’ daily life and future plans; sexual practices; the impact of hormone use on libido; and dating disclosure practices.

Trans Elder Health Issues

Transgender elders face the same major health concerns as other elders – heart disease, cancer, stroke, etc. – plus some. This article examines systematic barriers transgender elders face, common health problems with which transgender people experience disparities, and health problems that are specific to transgender people.

Transforming Mental Health Services for Older People: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Challenges and Opportunities

How would all elders and the aging network as a whole benefit if systems were designed to meet the needs of LGBT elders? That provocative and challenging thesis is at the base of this thought-provoking address to AARP’s 2007 Minority Issues Conference. The article also presents a new schema for thinking about cultural competency, and pioneers a new way of thinking about mental health.

Living Memory LGBT History Timeline

This teaching tool tracks major LGBT-related social changes and events current LGBT elders have lived through. Fully B and T inclusive, it will help users better conceptualize the advances – and setbacks – U.S. LGBT elders have lived through, thereby shedding light on their current attitudes and practices. May also be useful as a reminiscence tool.

Trans and SOFFA Aging Issues

This short article critically examines ageism and what individuals can do about it.

The Future of Aging: Re-defining Services and Advocacy for LGBT Older Adults

Originally presented as a keynote at the 2004 SAGE Conference, “No Need to Fear? No Need to Hide? Aging On Our Own Terms,” this visionary and rousing call to action discusses the culture of aging, recaps how far the LGBT community has come over the past 35 years, and describes how the specific strengths developed by LGBT people can be used to transform the culture of aging.

LGBT Elders: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Resource Sheet

Basic information about domestic violence and sexual assault of LGBT elders, including web resources on LGBT SA and DV, and general LGBT aging sites.

Transgender Elders and SOFFAs: A Primer for Service Providers and Advocates

This oldie-but-goodie is the place to start learning about not just transgender elders, but about transgender people in general. Provides a readable and relatively concise tour of major transgender issues including: definitions; the social implications of transition; issues specific to transitioning in later life; the role mental and physical health professionals play in transition; SOFFA issues (focusing specifically on spouses and partners, parents, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors and clerks); health care, legal, and financial issues in later life, and social concerns. The final section discusses implications for service providers and advocates, including a discussion of the challenges involved in integrating heterosexual trans people and SOFFAs into groups traditionally focused on lesbians and gay men.

Transgender Aging Research Agenda

Is Your “T” Written in Disappearing Ink? A Checklist for Transgender Inclusion

This checklist – aimed specifically at “LGBT” aging organizations, service providers, policymakers and others, but relevant to non-aging programs as well – is designed as a self-assessment tool. How well are you really serving your transgender constituency?

Transgender Elders and Marriage: The Importance of Legal Planning

This handout is a brief review of legal issues pertaining to transgender elders and marriage, including what legal steps should be made to protect married couples that include at least one trans person.

SOFFA (Significant Others, Family, Friends, and Allies) Questions and Answers

Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies (SOFFAs) of trans people are an important part of the trans community. This fact sheet outlines their issues and the roles they can play in advancing trans/SOFFA rights.

SOFFAs Interfacing with Health Care Professionals

SOFFA-specific health care issues are typically thought to begin and end with accompanying a trans person to the doctor or emergency room. Not true! These two unique articles discuss the myriad implications being the SOFFA of a trans person has for the SOFFA’s own physical and mental health care.

LGBT Elders: Elder Abuse and Neglect Issues

Originally published in the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, this article briefly defines the social, psychological, and legal environments of lesbians and gay elders, and discusses in greater depth the range of abuse specifically targeted at lesbians and gay men, including focus on topics such as internalized homophobia, legal barriers, and fear of authorities. A separate section on transgender elders covers definitions, non-congruent bodies, and transphobia. The paper closes with practical suggestions on how to serve LGBT elders successfully and respectfully.