Our History

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Tacoma Older LGBT  began as a grassroots movement in March 2013 with seven members Pat McIntyre, Cheryl Christello, Gloria Stancich, Mike Jarvis, Marie Rosa, Kathy Prezbindowski and Steven King representing various groups within the LGBT communities saw the need to address the issues and concerns of the older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adult living, working
or playing in Tacoma, Pierce County and surrounding areas. Striving to become an affiliate of SAGE USA we were called Pre-SAGE Tacoma.

In 2013, we began by defining “older” as age 50+ and worked in collaboration with SAGE Olympia to create a survey to determine needs with Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Lewis and South King Counties. We
met with constituents (older LGBT adults), providers and LGBT leaders to determine the needs. We discovered that constituents were interested in social events and how to meet other older LGBT adults,
while service providers working with aging adults were interested in training and education.

In 2014, Tacoma Older LGBT served over 550 older LGBT adults with the monthly Mature Men’s potluck, two “Happy Hours”, and a woman’s dance called WomynRock. At the end of 2014, Tacoma Older LGBT became an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

In 2015, we continue to have fun and serve older LGBT adults; board members and volunteers helped us add a weekly walk and a twice monthly men’s Coffee Klatch. With our Community Partners we started two new events; we co-host a 50+ LGBT Grief Support group with SAGE Olympia and with Tacoma Rainbow Center we co-sponsor a monthly brown bag lunch called 50+ Lunch Bunch.

We continue to work with older LGBT adults with special events and training providers who serve older adults on our history as older LGBT adults.
"Once you've met one older LGBT adult...you've met just one older LGBT adult"
--Dr. Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, in her speech, about the different and varied experiences many older LGBT adults have lived through during their lifetime, at the SEIU Healthcare 2013 "Over the Rainbow" Conference