Transgender Elders and SOFFAS: A primer
August 2002 | Loree Cook-Daniels
"By definition, transgender individuals must piece together a self-identity that is in opposition to what everyone tells them they are. Although the rise of the World Wide Web and growing public visibility of transgender people and issues are making it easier for individuals to tap into pre-existing identity models, the transgender experience is still largely an isolated, individual one."
More and more often, organizations, service providers, and other professionals are advertising that they serve an “LGBT” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) population or represent “LGBT” interests. Unfortunately, close examination of most of the offered services and organizational agendas reveals that few are addressing transgender concerns in any way beyond adding that letter to their name or slogan. Oftentimes, they are also failing to address aging issues. This publication is offered as an introductory exploration of the issues and concerns of aging trans people and SOFFAs (Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies) to begin the dialogue on what inclusion of trans people will really mean.