The Sexuality and Aging Consortium at Widener University will host its third annual conference and, this time, it will largely focus on issues of LGBT older adults. “Helping to Navigate Challenges in Sexuality & Aging” will be held Sept. 27-28, with a wealth of LGBT programming both days, geared toward service providers who work with LGBT aging populations. Conference co-chair Melanie Davis said the consortium has always focused on topics regarding sexuality and older adults, but said it was time to highlight the LGBT community. “It was time to look at the topic and help professionals be made aware of the issues and the need to advocate,” she said. Davis, along with co-chair Robin Goldberg-Glen, started working on the conference last fall. “We’ve been working hard to get this off the ground and get all speakers together because there aren’t many conferences focused on sexuality and aging, and it is important that we do it right,” she said. Workshop and discussions will focus on such topics as grief support for LGBTs, navigating the health-care system for LGBT patients, the impact of sexual identity and HIV status on older adults, building LGBT aging programs nationally and efforts to advance policy initiatives for LGBT older adults. Speakers include Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal, William Way LGBT Community Center senior programs coordinator Ed Miller, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly executive director Diane Menio, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders senior director Catherine Thurston and AIDS Community Research Initiative of America director for research and evaluation Mark Brennan-Ing. The event will also feature a screening of “Gen Silent,” along with a talkback session with film producer and director Stu Maddux. Organizers are expecting about 100 people, ranging from students to service providers to community leaders. Davis said the conference will be a unique experience for those interested in the subject. “We want as many people as possible because we have put together a stellar collection of presenters,” she said. “We hope there will be plenty of learning on how to be an advocate when they are working with older clients and hopefully challenging their own stereotypes and assumptions.” Tickets range from $25-$160, with discounts for students and groups. For more information, visit http://saconsortium.eventbrite.com or email [email protected].
