LGBT Elder Americans Act Introduced in Senate

[William769]

As the number of LGBT elders swell, Colorado's senior senator has introduced legislation to assist them with their specific needs.

Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado has introduced a bill that would assist the ever-growing ranks of LGBT elders.

The LGBT Elder Americans Act filed Tuesday was first introduced in 2012.

The bill follows Monday's White House Conference on Aging, and announcement by Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Julian Castro that LGBT seniors will be protected from discrimination in public housing.

The guidance issued by HUD states that administrators of all HUD-assisted housing cannot base decisions on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

"As baby boomers continue to age, it’s important that we understand the unique needs of this diverse generation," Bennet said in an emailed statement to the Washington Blade. "For LGBT seniors, questions about health care and financial issues can be particularly difficult without a trustworthy advocate to help guide them through these challenging decisions. And now, with full marriage equality thankfully the law of the land, many older LGBT couples have additional planning decisions to make. This bill will help aging service organizations assist older LGBT adults and their caregivers. Above all, it will provide LGBT seniors and their families the peace of mind that their best interests are being considered."

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/07/15/lgbt-elder-americans-act-introduced-senate