18/05/2021 | Writer: Yiğit E Korkmaz
LGBTI+ Elders Day has been celebrated in the US for five years on May 16th to celebrate the struggles of LGBTI+ elders.
Illustration: Semih Özkarakaş
It's LGBTI+ Elders Day. In 2016, the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton Health Care in the United States declared May 16 as the National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day.
Since then, stories of LGBTI+ elders are being voiced out on May 16th with various events across the US.
National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day aims to appreciate the contributions of elder LGBTI+'s to the struggle and raise awareness about old age. "The gains made in recent years toward LGBT equality sit squarely on the backs of those whose struggles and victories, extraordinary courage and everyday authenticity, pioneered the path toward freedom. Honor Our LGBT Elders Day works to unite the LGBTQ community and its allies to celebrate and thank those individuals who fought on behalf of us all." says the Center, explaining why they proclaimed May 16.
The events started in 2016 began to attract attention across the US in 2017. In 2018, the May 16 events became more popular, with the inclusion of actress Lily Tomlin. Every year on May 16th, intergenerational gatherings are held in addition to the events where LGBTI+ elders tell their stories.
Turkey: May 17 Association and 40+ Lubunya
The May 17 Association, which aims to strengthen the LGBTI+ community and LGBTI+ activism, started its work in the field of old age under the name "40+ Lubunya".
The group held its first meeting in December 2019 and set out to carry out studies in order to overcome one of the biggest fears of LGBTI+: aging and loneliness that comes along.
The May 17 Association published its report 'LGBTI+ Elders: Situation in Turkey and Around the World' last year, the first study in this field in Turkey. Within the scope of the 'LGBTI+ Elders' project, which started in July 2020, a series of online activities were organized to gather information in the field and to guide the work in the field of LGBTI+ elders. All the information obtained within the scope of the project was published in a book titled 'Rights and Problems of LGBTI+ Elders and Examples from the World'.
40+ Lubunya Initiative continues its next activities under the umbrella of the May 17 Association with the motto, "To not be deprived, not to be impoverished and not to be isolated...".
Tags: human rights, life
