The Malden Public Library in conjunction with the City of Malden, Councillor Ari Taylor, the Malden office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Malden Pride Coalition will have a special screening of Gen Silent in honor of Pride month. On Wednesday, June 4th at 6pm, at the library, we will show this very important documentary about LGBTQIA+ elders and the hurdles they face as they navigate later life care and medical concerns. Gen Silent follows the lives of 6 seniors in and around Boston who are trying to navigate aging and care in a system that is often hostile or at a minimum not equipped to embrace and support their needs.
Join us for this very important film and share your perspectives with our community. Elder care is an issue that each of us will have to face in some form. But for our queer elders that can be even more daunting. SAGE Advocacy and services for LGBTQ+ Elders provides some startling figures facing the community. “53% of LGBTQ+ older people report feeling isolated from others. 50% of all Americans living with HIV are over 50 years old. 65% of older transgender respondents felt there would be limited access to care as they aged… 55% from the same 2015 national survey feared they would be denied medical treatment. 70% of LGBTQ+ elders fear having to “re-closet” themselves when seeking elder housing. 41% of LGBTQ+ older people report having a disability, compared to 35 percent of heterosexual older adults.” With these figures it is essential to have conversations around what we can do to better support people in our neighborhood, family, and systemically through government support.
Following the screening there will be a discussion and light refreshments. There will also be representatives from Mystic Valley Elder Services and the Wicked Queer Film festival there to join the discussion. And for those who wish to learn more about services available for themselves and elders in their community we’ll also have in information table with materials from local organizations and a book list for further reading.