The Concerns of Transgender Seniors Amidst Changing Laws

[Social Media]

 

As the transgender community continues to gain visibility and acceptance in many parts of society, a new set of challenges has emerged for its older members. With over 1.3 million transgender adults living in the United States, approximately 171,000 are aged 65 and older. Among them is Rajee Narinesingh, a 56-year-old actress and activist from Florida. Having faced significant struggles throughout her life, from workplace discrimination to the devastating effects of black market injections that scarred her face, Narinesingh has nonetheless witnessed growing acceptance over the years.

 

 

“If you see older transgender people, it shows the younger community that it’s possible I can have a life. I can live to an older age,” Narinesingh reflects. “So I think that’s a very important thing.” However, despite the progress, she now faces new uncertainties about her future, particularly as a wave of new state laws enacted this year limits transgender people’s rights. 

 

“Every now and then I have like this thought, like, oh my God, if I end up in a nursing home, how are they going to treat me?” she worries. While most of the new state laws have focused on trans youth—at least 22 states have banned or restricted gender-affirming care for minors—the impact on transgender seniors is significant. For many, these laws have instilled new fears about retirement and old age, particularly regarding access to health care and the availability of welcoming spaces to live.

 

Morgan Mayfaire, a transgender man and the executive director of TransSOCIAL, a Florida-based support and advocacy group, voices similar concerns. “I have friends that have retired and they’ve decided to move to retirement communities. And then, little by little, they’ve found that they’re not welcome there,” Mayfaire shares. Discrimination in these settings can manifest in various ways, from being denied housing to being misgendered and facing challenges in having their visitation rights acknowledged.

 

“In order to be welcome there, they have to go into the closet and deny who they are,” Mayfaire says. The numbers speak to a growing population: about 171,000 transgender adults in the United States are aged 65 and older, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. However, while this population is increasing, the services available to them remain limited. Facilities geared toward serving the LGBTQ+ community, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers, are still uncommon.

 

One example of such a facility is Stonewall Gardens, a 24-apartment assisted living center in Palm Springs, California, which opened in 2015. The center’s staff undergo sensitivity training to ensure the environment is welcoming and comfortable for transgender residents. “Do you really want to be moving into a place where you have to explain yourself and have to go through it over and over?” asks interim executive director Lauren Kabakoff Vincent. “It’s exhausting, and so I think being able to be in a comfortable environment is important.”

 

SAGE, an organization advocating on behalf of LGBTQ+ seniors, offers training to nursing homes and other elder care providers. In the most recent fiscal year, they trained more than 46,000 staff at 576 organizations across the country. However, this still represents just a fraction of the elder care facilities nationwide. “We have a long way to go in terms of getting to the point where nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care providers are prepared for and ready to provide appropriate and welcoming care to trans elders,” says Michael Adams, SAGE’s CEO.

 

The gap in services and acceptance is a cause for concern for many, including Tiffany Arieagus, a 71-year-old drag performer and social services worker in south Florida. Arieagus, who works with SunServe, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit, has witnessed many changes over her lifetime, from marching in civil rights demonstrations as a child to advocating for gay rights. “I just am going on my 71 years on this earth and walking in the civil rights march with my mother at age six and then marching for gay rights,” she recounts. “I’ve been blessed enough to see so many changes being made in the world. And then now I’m having to see these wonderful progressions going backwards.”

 

While states like Massachusetts and California have enacted laws to ensure that LGBTQ+ seniors have equal access to aging programs and require training on how to serve this community, the push for restrictions on access to health care in other states has introduced new uncertainties. In Florida, the ban on gender-affirming care for minors also includes provisions that make it challenging for many adults to receive treatment.

 

SAGE has seen a significant increase in the number of calls to its hotline following the wave of anti-transgender legislation. According to Adams, about 40% of these calls have come from trans seniors, primarily in conservative parts of the country, who are worried about the new restrictions. For some transgender adults, these laws have prompted them to leave the state in search of care, often turning to crowdfunding for help. However, for many trans seniors, such a move isn’t feasible.

“You have the general fear, fear that is leading clinicians being concerned and perhaps stepping away from offering care, fear of trans elders of who is a safe clinician to go to,” explains Dan Stewart, associate director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Aging Equality Project.

 

One such individual facing these obstacles is Andrea Montanez, a 57-year-old LGBTQ immigration organizer at Hope CommUnity Center near Orlando. After the restrictions were signed into law, Montanez’s prescription for hormone therapy was initially denied. Although she was eventually able to get her prescription filled, Montanez remains concerned about the future as she approaches retirement. “I hope I have a happy retirement, but health care is a big problem,” she says.

 

Tatiana Williams, 51, the executive director of the Transinclusive Group in Wilton Manors, Florida, is also troubled by the new restrictions. For her, they bring back painful memories of a time when she and other transgender individuals had to rely on dangerous and illegal sources for gender-affirming care. Williams recalls being hospitalized for a collapsed lung after receiving black market silicone injections for her breasts. “What we don’t want is the community resorting to going back to that,” she warns.

 

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of resilience among older transgender adults. They see hope in the way their generation is working with younger trans people to push back against the wave of restrictive laws. “The community’s going to take care of itself. It’s as simple as that. We’re going to find ways to take care of ourselves and we’re going to survive this,” Mayfaire asserts. “And as far as trans youth panicking over this, look to your elders.”

 

This sense of solidarity and determination underscores the strength of the transgender community, even in the face of adversity. As older transgender adults navigate these uncertain times, they continue to inspire younger generations by showing that it is possible to live a full and meaningful life, despite the obstacles. The fight for acceptance and equality may be ongoing, but the courage and resilience of those who have come before will undoubtedly light the way forward.

 

Credit: NBC News 2024-08-31

 

 

 

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[LukKrueng]

Don't understand their problem. If there are so many of them, why don't they just create a town where they can live in together with a set of rules that suits them? They can have general toilets facilities, their own old age care places, "pride parades" everyday of the year. As the common thing for all of the residents will be their membership in the a-z community, they'll know for sure that if anyone rejects them it is for other reasons...

[anyone]

6 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

Don't understand their problem. If there are so many of them, why don't they just create a town where they can live in together with a set of rules that suits them? They can have general toilets facilities, their own old age care places, "pride parades" everyday of the year. As the common thing for all of the residents will be their membership in the a-z community, they'll know for sure that if anyone rejects them it is for other reasons...

and this city should be on the moon ❤️‍🩹

[john donson]

transgender woman facing PROSTATE CANCER now ?

[novacova]

2 minutes ago, john donson said:

transgender woman facing PROSTATE CANCER now ?

Women cannot contract prostate cancer, it’s biologically impossible. 

[EVENKEEL]

5 hours ago, anyone said:

and this city should be on the moon ❤️‍🩹

Preferably. Mars a possible second choice.

[Tug]

Why is this even a question….mind your own business this tiny minority of disenfranchised people won’t harm you it’s truly a nonsense issue.an easy target for the flawed people amongst us.Be thankfull your personality allows you to live a more normal lifestyle.I don’t think these people choose to be this way.they just are…….

[EVENKEEL]

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Why is this even a question….mind your own business this tiny minority of disenfranchised people won’t harm you it’s truly a nonsense issue.an easy target for the flawed people amongst us.Be thankfull your personality allows you to live a more normal lifestyle.I don’t think these people choose to be this way.they just are…….

I agree. Why is such a tiny minority constantly in the news?

[georgegeorgia]

6 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I agree. Why is such a tiny minority constantly in the news?

Because they are good readers in the library for storytimes 

[bigt3116]

On 8/31/2024 at 3:33 AM, Social Media said:

Having faced significant struggles throughout her life, from workplace discrimination to the devastating effects of black market injections that scarred her face,

 

So it buys black market injections that surprise, surprise don't work, and we are supposed to feel sorry for it? That is a self imposed problem, not a "struggle".

[Luuk Chaai]

7 hours ago, novacova said:

Women cannot contract prostate cancer, it’s biologically impossible. 

 

same as  "birthing"   mothers have to be  "XX"

[thaibeachlovers]

My only experience of an aging "transgender" was one rather pathetic katoey trying to make a living selling fruit in Pattaya.

It didn't look like "she" had a happy life. If they thought about what will happen 30 years in the future, I wonder how many would have those large implants?

 

It's hard going against the flow regardless of how one does that, but for most of us that were "different," we didn't voluntarily mutilate our bodies to do so.

[Tug]

4 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I agree. Why is such a tiny minority constantly in the news?

Isn’t it obvious?they are an easy target to bully and whip up strong feelings some (folks) use this easy prey to whip up their base with hatred and division……rather pathetic if you ask me these people are rather harmless and kind of a sad fringe group.

[JonnyF]

Another case of ignoring huge problems and deflecting to minority issues.

 

Ageing transgenders? Yes let's focus on that while people can't pay their mortgage and pay their bills due to rampant inflation. 

[Tug]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Another case of ignoring huge problems and deflecting to minority issues.

 

Ageing transgenders? Yes let's focus on that while people can't pay their mortgage and pay their bills due to rampant inflation. 

Nobody is focusing on this issue it’s not in the news at all.

[JonnyF]

9 minutes ago, Tug said:

Nobody is focusing on this issue it’s not in the news at all.

 

Great point.

 

Haven't heard anything about trans issues for years 😆

[EVENKEEL]

40 minutes ago, Tug said:

Isn’t it obvious?they are an easy target to bully and whip up strong feelings some (folks) use this easy prey to whip up their base with hatred and division……rather pathetic if you ask me these people are rather harmless and kind of a sad fringe group.

So, why is this even news?

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

So, why is this even news?

It's classic political diversion. Look at this nothing burger while I'm destroying the country stuff.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I agree. Why is such a tiny minority constantly in the news?

See my previous post.

[maesariang]

15 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Don't understand their problem. If there are so many of them, why don't they just create a town where they can live in together with a set of rules that suits them? They can have general toilets facilities, their own old age care places, "pride parades" everyday of the year. As the common thing for all of the residents will be their membership in the a-z community, they'll know for sure that if anyone rejects them it is for other reasons...

Good idea. Tranny town. 

[impulse]

On 8/31/2024 at 4:33 AM, Social Media said:

approximately 171,000 are aged 65 and older. Among them is Rajee Narinesingh, a 56-year-old actress and activist from Florida.

 

Last time I checked, 56 yo wasn't over 65.  

 

On 8/31/2024 at 4:33 AM, Social Media said:

With over 1.3 million transgender adults living in the United States,

 

With an adult population of 258 million, that's 1/2 of 1%.  Making the majority of the noise.

 

What a puff piece...  Sounds like they have exactly the same concerns that most seniors have.  Finding an affordable place where they'll be able to live the life they choose, along with health care where even the 20% Medicare co-pay can bankrupt you in one health related event.

 

Nobody's denying them care.  Nobody's dictating where they can live.  My experience with transgenders in the USA (Texas, no less) is that they're as accepted as they allow themselves to be- based on their personality and how they treat the people they live around.  Of course, those who live with a chip on their shoulder, not so popular.  But that's the same with every demographic.

 

 

[LukKrueng]

19 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Preferably. Mars a possible second choice.

As long as it's not Venus!!!

[LukKrueng]

7 hours ago, impulse said:

Last time I checked, 56 yo wasn't over 65.  

To be honest, when I was 56 I've never been over 65, but I do know people who like that. Had a friend that when he was 30 he was regularly over 50 

[DougieMax]

It'S  MA'AM!!!!!!

[Yagoda]

15 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I agree. Why is such a tiny minority constantly in the news?

Why is such a tiny minority affecting our lives with their demands?