June is Pride Month

In 2019, SeniorAdvice.com named Asheville as among the nation’s best cities in America for LGBTQ seniors. There are many aspects of our community that contribute to this ranking.  At their June 1, 2021 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners recognized Pride Month with the adoption of the County’s first-ever Pride Month Proclamation.   

According to recent estimates from Gallup Surveys, the national population of LGBTQ older adults is expected to double by 2050, to 88 million people aged 65 and older. It is therefore essential that communities such as ours capitalize on the unique opportunities and address the challenges presented to the LGBTQ older adult community.   

These challenges include the fact that, 3 out of 4 LGBTQ adults age 45+ are concerned about having enough support from family and friends as they grow older (AARP, 2018), and the same proportion (3/4) is less likely to have children than their heterosexual counterparts (Boston Foundation, 2018). Because so many aging LGBTQ adults don’t have children, a partner or a spouse, and live alone, their chances of experiencing loneliness increases, which can trigger mental health and physical problems.   

Despite these challenges, in our community, there are some efforts and organizations committed to promoting and supporting LGBTQ older adults. Age-friendly Buncombe partner Blue Ridge Pride offers Generation Plus, a program that seeks to enrich the lives of LGBTQ+ and allied community older adults. 

Here are a few of the programs Generation Plus offers: 

• Pride Time is a fun and supportive virtual social hour, typically held the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm. Registration info is here.  

• Rainbow Inspiration, co-sponsored by AARP Mountain Region, is a series of spotlights on our LGBTQ community leaders and influencers that typically take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 noon. Find out more about this Facebook Live event here.  

• Lunch and Learn and other in-person social events are currently being planned. To learn more, visit Generation Plus here.   

Blue Ridge Pride also hosts a Virtual LGBTQ Community Center, which includes a searchable database of welcoming community services, businesses, churches, and social and professional groups and programs.   

While June is Pride Month, Age-friendly Buncombe is looking forward to celebrating our LGBTQ senior community at the 2021 Blue Ridge Pride Festival and Welcoming WNC Procession, which will take place on Saturday, September 25 in Pack Square Park. The Procession is at 10am and will be followed by the festival from 11am to 7pm. We hope you'll join us!

Happy Pride Month Y'all!

Photo Credit: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2019/04/09/asheville-named-no-14-city-lgbtq-seniors-and-retirees/3409381002/