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(Sacramento, California) Legislation that requires
the state of California to deliver programs and services targeted to LGBT
seniors passed the Assembly on Thursday.
The Older Californians Equality and Protection
Act is aimed at ensuring that the California Department of Aging accounts for
the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors in all of its
programs and services.
The measure passed by a 48-32 vote and now goes
to the Senate.
"California's LGBT seniors deserve to live
their golden years with dignity and stability," said the bill's sponsor,
Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).
By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or
older. Roughly four million of these will be lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender.
LGBT elders face a number of particular concerns
as they age according a recent report by the Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
LGBT elders often do not access adequate health
care, affordable housing, and other social services that they need, due to
institutionalized heterosexism.
Several studies of nursing home administrators,
Area Administration on Aging directors and health care providers found
widespread homophobia among those entrusted with the care of America's seniors.
As a result many older gays and lesbians retreat
back into the closet, reinforcing isolation.
California with the largest population of gay and
lesbian couples of any state could see increasing problems for older gays,
Equality California, the states largest LGBT rights group said.
"LGBT seniors should be able to take
advantage of any government service that is available to all older
Californians," said Seth Kilbourn, Equality California political
director.
"The elder LGBT community has unique needs
that should be considered in current and future state programs administered
through the Department of Aging."
©365Gay.com 2006
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