As the population gets older, organizations are moving to fit their needs. In New York, a group called Gray Panthers NYC is dedicated to improving quality of life for older people, including LGBTQ+ seniors. Queerful spoke with their president, Jack Kupferman, about some of the issues queer seniors face.
Jason Byers: Hi, my name is Jason Byers. I'm co-founder of Queerful. And I'm here today with Jack Kupferman, president of Gray Panthers NYC, a New York-based organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for older persons, locally, nationally, and globally. Hi Jack.
Jack Kupferman: Good afternoon. I'm really thrilled to be able to talk with you.
JB: So, while the Gray Panthers is not specifically an LGBTQ+ organization, given your involvement and the fact that you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you’d be a good person to ask: What specific issues do older folks within the queer community face?
JK: There are so many. But some of the most important things are health concerns, employment and financial stability, social isolation, family relations, developing and maintaining intimacy, and more.