At Spirit on Lake, Gay Seniors Find Safe Haven

[reflection]

Lucretia Kirby was on her own for the first time in years after her partner's death. She felt stranded in a church-affiliated assisted living facility, where she said bigotry and even physical threats were ignored by building managers.

Russ Lovaasen was infected with HIV in 1982. Decades of medication and its side effects left him prematurely aged at 62, and unable to afford a place of his own.

Harvey Hertz, a gay man who came out decades ago, was terrified that moving into a retirement community would force him back into the closet. He'd seen it happen.

Since September, Hertz, Kirby and Lovaasen have joined others as the charter residents at Spirit on Lake, a 46-unit affordable housing complex marketed to older members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Only the second building of its kind in the United States — more are under construction or planned in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco — Spirit on Lake's backers say it fills a growing need for a generation of openly gay people now reaching their twilight years.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/spirit-lake-gay-seniors-find-safe-haven-21395155

Very cool. First I'd heard of this. I searched DU but found nothing on it, apologies if dupe.

[LeftofObama]

1. What a great article!

I look forward to reading more about senior GLBT housing in the new year. Thanks for posting this.

[xchrom]

2. du rec.

[MNBrewer]

3. In Minneapolis. Very cool.

and cold hehe. -11 this morning

[William769]

4. Kick & recommended.

[KurtNYC]

5. The article makes a good point about the current generation of seniors

coming of age when LBGT was far less accepted than it is now. And also that the next generation of LBGT seniors is more likely to have legal spouses, children and larger support networks. The main point being that this type of facility is especially important to the current retirees.

[Little Star]

6. Wow! Thanks for posting this.

[Bohunk68]

7. There used to be a group for older GLBT folks,

believe it was called SAGE. Have heard stuff about it now and then. Been thinking about something like this, especially for those of us who are rural.