After the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo attempting to freeze federal grants and other financial assistance, SAGE — the nation’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults — teamed up with the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association and Main Street Alliance to challenge the directive in court.
Roughly a third of SAGE’s funding comes from the federal government — and Aaron Tax, managing director of government affairs and policy advocacy, said this means SAGE’s access to grants or other funding is at risk.
He also hopes the lawsuit helps to dispel the misunderstanding that SAGE or other nonprofits would have the power and resources on their own to pick up the slack if the federal government pulls funding from sectors that serve vulnerable populations.
“I don’t know how many people understand that the federal government — as well as states and localities — fund many nonprofits to do important work in their communities,” he underlined. “I think it’s important that people understand that connection.”
The group of complainants, which is represented by Democracy Forward — a nonprofit legal services and public policy research organization, secured a victory when a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the OMB freeze — but that win isn’t the end of the lawsuit.
Democracy Forward is continuing to pursue litigation on the matter and is defending vulnerable populations who are impacted by other problematic policies pursued by the Trump administration. The administration rescinded the OMB memo in response to the lawsuit but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that the administration did not rescind a federal funding freeze overall — which means that programs and initiatives could still be adversely impacted.
Although LGBTQ+ older adults have not been specifically named in a direct attack by executive orders or other relevant actions, Tax underlined that this vulnerable population is impacted by “the entire slew of the executive orders.” LGBTQ+ older adults are directly and indirectly affected by policies that target trans or queer populations, DEI initiatives and funding for programs that serve marginalized people.
Roughly 11 million people rely on programs funded under the Older Americans Act, Tax explained, which funds critical programs that allow people to age in place and in communities they already trust. A federal funding freeze places these programs at risk by making it harder for nonprofits to fund transportation assistance, legal assistance, chore assistance, individual and congregate meals, senior centers, fall prevention and other services that help older Americans. Tax believes LGBTQ+ older adults account for approximately 10% of those who rely on these programs.
“This is a population that faces pronounced disparities as they get older,” Tax said. “There are many of the same challenges that other older people face, but often in a more pronounced way — so they’re facing higher rates of social isolation, are twice as likely to be single and four times less likely to have kids than their hetero counterparts, have higher rates of poverty (particularly pronounced among lesbian couples, who have twice the poverty rate of their heterosexual counterparts), and of course, experience more pronounced poverty with respect to people of color and trans older people. Then there’s a lack of access to culturally competent services and supports, both in the LGBT space and also in the aging space.”
Many LGBTQ+ older adults have lived during times when it didn’t feel safe or comfortable to live in their authenticity — and now, given the state of American politics and culture, some are facing similar decisions about whether or not to be “out” as they age.
LGBTQ+ older adults face increased risks for elder abuse. Tax explained that this population often worries about situations where they might lack full control over their living situations, who is coming into their homes, who they’re eating meals with, who is providing their healthcare and other important facets of life. This leads them to feel cautious about living openly or even forces them to consider the prospect of going back into the closet.
One of SAGE’s mottos is that LGBTQ+ older adults should “refuse to be invisible,” which Tax hopes translates into tangible support that helps them feel that they don’t have to hide who they are.
SAGE, which was founded in 1978, operates four LGBTQ+ friendly senior centers and low-income apartment complexes in New York City and offers various support services for LGBTQ+ older adults and people living with HIV in New York City and South Florida. But the organization also has a strong national presence — with a national housing initiative and federally funded resource center focused on LGBTQ+ aging.
Tax explained that housing laws are at the top of his list of concerns. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced that he has directed HUD staff to halt compliance with HUD’s Equal Access Rule — a move that Tax said SAGE is fighting against by elevating the voices of LGBTQ+ older adults who would be impacted by this action.
HUD’s Equal Access Rule, implemented in 2016, requires HUD housing programs to provide access to federally-funded homeless shelters and other housing initiatives to all people without regard to a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. The rule specifically aimed to protect access for trans people — who are often turned away from sex-segregated housing spaces.
LGBTQ+ older adults are also affected by problematic rhetoric and language that belittles and dehumanizes queer experiences, Tax said, explaining — for example — that the executive order banning trans people from openly serving in the military claimed that trans identity is incompatible with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful and disciplined lifestyle and not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.
Tax — who previously worked as the legal director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and advocated to overturn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — said that trans service members and veterans are selfless and honest, and to call that into question is an unnecessary cruelty that only demeans and further marginalizes vulnerable people.
“All of these EOs that use this cruel and demeaning language have an impact on the entire LGBTQ community, including older people,” he underlined. “And I don’t want people to lose sight of that.”
SAGE, which supports Philadelphia’s Elder Initiative and various local efforts across Pennsylvania and nationwide, stays connected to these partners to provide resources. He wants advocates to continue supporting LGBTQ+ older adults — even though the current landscape is confusing to navigate.
“Our message to folks is to keep doing this work until you’re told otherwise,” Tax said about advocates and leaders who work on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized populations. “There’s no need to do the Trump administration’s bidding for them. Don’t preemptively stop what you’re doing out of fear.”
SAGE is also hosting a webinar “Trump’s First 30 Days: What LGBTQ+ Older People Need to Know” on Feb. 20 in collaboration with various LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and those that focus on aging. A group of experts will break down the Trump administration’s executive orders and other relevant actions to inform attendees about their potential impact on LGBTQ+ older adults and older people living with HIV. Resources and information to help community members stay prepared will also be presented, and attendees will have an opportunity to submit questions and interact with presenters through a chat function.
SAGE’s webinar, “Trump’s First 30 Days: What LGBTQ+ Older People Need to Know,” will take place via Zoom on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. To register, visit sageusa.org/first30.