As people age, they inevitably face various challenges that can affect their physical, emotional, and social well-being, highlighting the shared experience of navigating life’s complexities in later years. Diversity within the aging population can complicate these challenges, as differing cultural perspectives and experiences may influence access to resources and support systems as well as their human rights.

Across the globe, LGBTIQ+ older adults are among the most marginalized and at risk of LGBTIQ+ peoples, experiencing rampant intersectional human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender, bodily diversity and the stigma of ageism. LGBTIQ+ people do not form a single, uniform group or community. Each person within these communities possesses a variety of distinct and occasionally overlapping characteristics, leading to diverse histories and experiences. It is essential to celebrate and respect these differences, as they enrich understanding and foster inclusivity.

 

As they get older, LGBTIQ+ peoples face widespread discrimination, are at acute risk for severe social isolation, lack support networks, are disproportionately poor, find accessing appropriate aged care challenging and grapple with pronounced health disparities. Progress has been made in certain countries and regions over the last two decades in acknowledging and addressing the marginalization and discrimination faced by LGBTIQ+ older adults.

 

In recent years LGBTIQ+ peoples’ rights have come under significant threat globally. Political repression, cultural and religious conservatism, disinformation, and economic inequality have combined to erode hard-won freedoms and progress in many countries.

 

This panel will be led by a group of LGBTIQ+ aging advocates from Australia, Costa Rica, Nepal, and the United States working at the intersection of LGBTIQ+ human rights, aging and aged care. Panelists will discuss LGBTIQ+ aging experiences specific to their country contexts, highlight learnings from the field, and share concrete ways that policymakers and advocates can understand, address, and advance the health and human rights of LGBTIQ+ older adults.

Michael Adams (he/him) is the Chief Executive Officer of SAGE, the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to transforming the LGBTQ+ aging experience. SAGE supports LGBTQ+ older people and providers across the U.S. via advocacy, community services, education, and training. SAGE works with numerous U.S. and international partners. Adams has spoken and written widely on LGBTQ+ aging issues. A graduate of Stanford Law School and Harvard College, he previously was the Director of Education and Public Affairs and Deputy Legal Director for Lambda Legal and Litigation Director for the ACLU LGBT Rights Project.

 

Sam Edmonds (she/her) is the Director Policy, Education and Systemic Advocacy at the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN). Samantha has extensive knowledge and experience in policy, advocacy, human rights, and a strong commitment to inclusive aged care. Sam is on the Board of the International Federation of Ageing, Chairs the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Diversity Consultative Committee and is a distinguished member of the Australian Association of Gerontology. She ensures the consumer voice and the rights of older people remain at the centre of the work OPAN does. Prior to OPAN Sam worked at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia as the Manager – Silver Rainbow, a project designed to improve inclusiveness and accessibility of aged care to LGBTI older people as well as impact government policy, and deliver on the Government’s LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy. Sam also worked at the Australian Human Rights Commission on the Same Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry and Report. Sam holds 3 masters degrees in social administration, politics and public policy, and international relations. She is passionate about human rights and social justice and raising the voices of lived experience.

Sarita K.C. (she/her) is the Executive Director of Mitini Nepal, a leading organization championing the rights of gender and sexual minorities in Nepal. With nearly a decade of activism, Sarita has played a key role in advocating for legal gender recognition, marriage equality, and broader protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. She is dedicated to dismantling stigma, expanding healthcare access, and advancing adoption rights for sexual minorities. Sarita collaborates with educational institutions, lawmakers, and LBQ women to foster societal understanding and amplify their voices in advocacy. Her unwavering commitment drives her mission to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all. For three years, she has been Mitini Nepal’s project lead for the LGBTI Elders Advancing Initiative in Nepal. As such, she will share learnings from the field on both the challenges and importance of including older adults in programming for LGBTIQ+ persons as well as the current advocacy challenges faced by this community.

 

Daniela Bolaños Torres (she/her) is the political advocacy coordinator of CIPAC (Center for Research and Promotion of Central America Human Rights), one of the oldest LGBT+ organizations in Costa Rica. CIPAC is a pioneer and leading organization working on the fundamental issue of discrimination faced by LGBT+ populations, especially regarding how it affects the process of aging and living the old age. Daniela has been involved in projects about these topics since 2017 and has done political advocacy for several years in Costa Rica, Central America and International spaces. She is a political scientist, specialized in human rights