Respecting our elders - reader forum

Thank you for your article about gay and lesbian seniors in America ["Where Will They Live?" July 9]. I'm a 28-year-old gay male, and this hit me hard, as I have never really given any thought to my future as a senior citizen. My experience with the senior members of the LGBT community where I live is that they are either not seen or are the brunt of jokes by younger gays.

Ageism is far too prevalent in the United States. That, coupled with the issue of sexuality, can be a true struggle for seniors. Because many gays are shunned by their families upon coming out and given the battle most same-sex couples must go through to build a family of their own, seniors may not be able to rely on close relatives or children to take care of them after growing old.

I was quite happy to read that efforts are being made in San Francisco to build affordable housing for older gays. These outstanding individuals built our communities and helped pave the way for many of us. We owe it to these people to provide a place for them to live out the final days of their lives.

Rob Anderson, La Crosse, Wis.

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