Still Coming Out: Our Evolving Identity as Older LGBTQ+ People.
Really enjoyed this recent UK Guardian article (https://bit.ly/3vMIYyh) about older people making significant changes in their 90s. There’s the story of Maybelle Blair, who proclaimed, “I was in the closet for 95 years. Then that door blew open!” Imagine coming out as a lesbian at 95. Wow!
The older you are, the less likely you define yourself as LGBTQ+. Here’s the percentage of each generation that self-identify as LGBTQ+:
Generation Z: 22.3%
Millennials: 9.8%
Generation X: 4.5%
Baby Boomers: 2.3%
Silent Generation: 1.1%
AVERAGE 7.5%
I’m excited to be co-leading a special Santa Fe workshop week, “Still Coming Out,” June 17-22, in which we’ll explore what it is or was like to come out as a gay person, as an elder in the gay community, and as someone who wants to create more intergenerational collaboration in the LGBTQ+ community. It’s rare to gather a group of a couple of dozen queer folks to talk about aging, so it should be a provocative and inspiring week with some great speakers. Whether you came out during the Kennedy era or just last week, you’re welcome.
If you want to get to know our MEA LGBTQ+ alumni group, we’re opening up this afternoon’s call to non-alums who are curious about MEA and this upcoming workshop. It’s at 1 pm PT and you can register here.
-Chip
