FAQ: Housing Right for LGBT Seniors

This FAQ provided Lambda Legal provides updated information on housing rights and LGBT seniors.

January 2020 | Lambda Legal

How Can Legal Services Better Meet the Needs of Low-Income LGBT Seniors?

This special report addresses specifically how legal services can best meet the unique legal needs of low-income LGBT older adults.

June 2018 | Justice in Aging

Dignity Denied: Religious Exemptions and LGBT Elder Services

Ever-growing religious exemption laws put LGBT elders at increased risk for discrimination.

December 2017 | The Movement Advancement Project and SAGE & Public Rights/Private Conscience Project (PRPCP) at Columbia Law School

A Closer Look at the Revised Nursing Facility Regulations: Visitation Rights

A review of the revised nursing facility regulations specific to visitation rights and the inclusion of same-sex spouses and domestic partners.

April 2017 | The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and Justice in Aging

Imposter Scams

Information from the Federal Trade Commission to help recognize and report Imposter Scams.

February 2017 | Federal Trade Commission

Health Care Scams

Information from the Federal Trade Commission on recognizing and reporting Health Care Scams.

February 2017 | Federal Trade Commission

Looking for Love? First Look Out for You!

Tips on How LGBT Elders Can Avoid the Infamous Sweetheart Scam

February 2016 | National Center on Elder Abuse and SAGE's National Resource Center on LGBT Aging

Legal Developments and Practical Considerations: Improving the Quality of Care for Older LGBT Adults in the Long Term Care Setting

Improving the Quality of Care for Older LGBT Adults in the Long Term Care Setting

March 2015 | Tracy Carlson Ivers

Know-How: The Trans Person's Guide to Get or Change All of the Life Documents and Essential Paperwork You'll Need to Make Your Way in the World

This publication is chock-full of specific steps and how-to’s to help transgender people in New York State manage the process of changing names, gender markers, and identity documents from driver’s licenses to passports.

October 2014 | Planned Parenthood's Out for Health; Ithaca College Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services

Whitman-Walker Health

Whitman-Walker Health is a Washington DC community health center specializing in HIV/AIDS care and lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender care.

September 2014

FreeState Legal Project

FreeState Legal Project non-profit legal organization located in Baltimore city that is dedicated to advocating on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Marylanders.

February 2014

Take the Power: Tools for Life and Financial Planning

Lambda Legal has prepared this toolkit, with information on creating wills, protecting your medical and end-of-life decisions, and more, so that you can take the power and create a more secure future for yourself and your family.

January 2014 | Lambda Legal

Benefits for Same-Sex Couples Post DOMA

This December 2013 webinar looks at the implications of the June 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Section 3 the Defense of Marriage Act on benefits for same-sex couples.

December 2013

How does the Supreme Court's decision in the marriage equality cases affect same-sex couple in New York?

Thinking about getting married in New York now that part of DOMA has been overturned? Read through this article by Thomas Sciacca, Esq. for an overview of different considerations.

July 2013 | Thomas Sciacca, Esq.

How Medicare is Affected by the Overturn of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

This fact sheet briefly describes how your access to Medicare may be affected if you are in a legal marriage, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act on June 26, 2013.

June 2013 | The Medicare Rights Center

After DOMA: What it Means for You - Medicare Spousal Protections

This publication from a number of LGBT legal and advocacy groups addresses the spousal protections of Medicare, the federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older, as well as for certain younger people with disabilities.

June 2013 | National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)

Social Security Benefits and DOMA: Can I do Anything Now to Preserve My Rights?

This document summarizes how to preserve seniors' rights to Social Security benefits until the day the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is gone.

October 2012 | GLAD Equal Justice Under the Law

Legal Plans (Alzheimer's)

Legal Plans' is a brochure with recommendations for assisting the caregiver and the person with dementia in making legal arrangements.

October 2012 | Alzheimer's Association

One-Sheet: Social Security Benefits and DOMA

This document, written prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in June 2013 overturning Section 3 of DOMA, summarized how to preserve seniors' rights to Social Security benefits.

October 2012 | GLAD Equal Justice Under the Law

National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center - Ombudsman Locator

The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center provides a listing for every state's ombudsment. Long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes and assisted living facilities.

September 2012

Trans Aging: We're Still Here!

This fact sheet offers an overview of some of the issues facing transgender older adults and answers some common questions.

July 2012 | Lamda Legal

Giving Someone a Power of Attorney For Your Health Care

This guide, with an easy to use legal form for all adults, is prepared by the American Bar Association.

June 2012 | Commission on Law and Aging, American Bar Association

Freedom to Serve: The Definitive Guide to Military Service

This guide provides lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender service members with a comprehensive overview of laws and policies that are relevant to their military service, as well as practical information for advocates and friends of gay and transgender service members.

May 2012 | Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)

A Blueprint for Equality: A Federal Agenda for Transgender People

The Blueprint for Equality presents an ambitious agenda for the transgender equality movement through federal policy change.

March 2012 | National Center for Transgender Equality

Ensuring LGBT Access to HUD Housing Programs

This article discusses the new HUD regulations that aim to protect LGBT individuals and couples. In addition, the article overviews what to do if one suspects that housing discrimination is occurring.

March 2012 | American Civil Liberties Union

Know Your Rights: Fair Housing and Transgender People

This document outlines the housing rights of transgender people and how to file complaints of housing discrimination.

March 2012 | National Center for Transgender Equality

How Area Agencies on Aging Can Help LGBT Older Adults

Each state has a local Area Agency on Aging. They provide a number of important services to aid older adults and ensure that they are able to stay in their homes. This article discusses how and why LGBT older adults can take advantage of these services.

February 2012 | Leland Kiang

Understanding the New Passport Gender Change Policy

This resource from the National Center for Transgender Equality provides information about when you need a passport and addresses specific concerns for transgender people, including how to change your name and gender information on your passport, how to apply for a new passport, and more.

January 2012 | National Center for Transgender Equality

Revised Appendix A, Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitals, and Appendix W, Interpretive Guidelines for Critical Access Hospitals

This publication includes the hospital guidelines as mandated by the Department of Health & Human Services regarding hospital visitations and designation of a health care representative pertinent to the LGBT population.

December 2011 | Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Navigating the System: A Know-Your-Rights Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders in California

This publication is designed to inform LGBT older adults of various available services and benefits, including LGBT-friendly housing and service providers and benefits for people with disabilities. It also overviews California's anti-discrimination laws and how to address discrimination or mistreatment.

December 2011 | National Center for Lesbian Rights; Lavender Seniors of the East Bay; Transgender Law Center; Openhouse; Planning for Elders

Key Legal Issues Faced by Older LGBT Adults

The legal issues discussed in this article are exclusive to the LGBT population and are issues that their heterosexual, non-transgender counterparts do not have to face. (Note: some of these issues may have been impacted by the US Supreme Court decision overturning Section 3 of DOMA in June 2013.)

November 2011 | David Godfrey

The Equal Rights Center: Protect Your Rights - Fair Housing

This document serves to inform LGBT people on how to protect themselves against housing discrimination.

October 2011 | The Equal Rights Center

Standing Up To Stigma: Challenging HIV Discrimination in Long Term Care

A video by The Graying of AIDS Project, produced for AARP, about a man forced out of his assisted living facility because he has HIV.

September 2011 | AARP, Graying of AIDS

HIV/AIDS and Your Rights: A Fact Sheet

People living with HIV/AIDS are entitled to certain protections under federal law. Learn more about your rights.

September 2011 | SAGE

In My Own Words: Franke v. Parkstone Living Center, Inc.

Dr. Robert Franke, a 75-year-old retired university provost and minister, relocated to Little Rock while still living independently to be closer to his daughter, Sara Bowling Franke. The next day, Fox Ridge of?cials abruptly ejected Dr. Franke from the facility because he has HIV. Here, both Dr. Franke and his daughter Sara tell their story.

September 2011 | Dr. Robert Franke and Sara Bowling Franke

Medicaid and the LGBT Community: Paying for Long-Term Care

The eligibility rules for Medicaid are complicated, and can contain traps for the unwary. This article provides an overview of the rules that apply to those in the LGBT community who might need Medicaid, particularly those who might need long-term care in a nursing home. Note: This publication was created before the June 2013 US Supreme Court decision overturning Section 3 of DOMA, so some information contained herein may no longer be applicable.

June 2011 | Arlene Zarembka

LGBT Long-Term Care Issues

LGBT elders in long-term care facilities (along with their families and friends) need to know their rights and the red flags of mistreatment. The aim of this article is to give the current state of affairs, outline some forms of discrimination that LGBT elders face in nursing homes, and discuss some ways we can fight this mistreatment.

June 2011 | Daniel Redman

What Every LGBT Older Adult Needs to Know About Wills

A will is an essential part of any estate plan, but this is especially true for LGBT people. An estimated two-thirds of all people die without a will (i.e., “intestate”), but dying intestate can have devastating consequences for LGBT people because, in the majority of instances, the law does not recognize our chosen families – our partners, friends, and caregivers.

June 2011 | Nancy J. Knauer

Lo Que Todas las Personas LGBT de Más Edad Deben Saber Sobre los Testamentos

Aunque el testamento es parte esencial de cualquier planificación del patrimonio, es especialmente importante para las personas LGBT. En un testamento, tú designas quién recibirá tus bienes al tú morir. También nombras a una persona para que tome decisiones importantes acerca de tu patrimonio, la cual es denominada tu "representante personal" o "albacea".

June 2011

Asuntos del Cuidado a Largo Plazo Para Personas LGBT

Las personas lesbianas, gay, bisexuales y transgénero (LGBT) de más edad que viven en centros de cuidado a largo plazo (y sus familiares y amigos) deben conocer sus derechos y las señales del maltrato. Este artículo delinea los tipos de discriminación a los que pueden estar sujetos las personas LGBT de más edad en centros de envejecientes, como también varias maneras de atacar el problema.

June 2011 | Daniel Redman

Creating and Protecting Personal and Financial Legal Rights

Proper planning can ensure that your wishes are carried out by the person of your choice in the event of your incapacity. Without proper planning, someone may be appointed to make medical and financial decisions for you, which may not be in accord with your wishes.

June 2011 | Ray Koenig, III, Esq.

El Medicaid y la Comunidad LGBT: Cómo Pagar por el Cuidado a Largo Plazo

Las reglas de elegibilidad para el Medicaid son complicadas y pueden resultar problemáticas para quienes no están bien informados. Este artículo ofrece un panorama general sobre las reglas que aplican a las personas LGBT que podrían necesitar Medicaid, particularmente aquéllas que podrían necesitar cuidado a largo plazo en un hogar de envejecientes. Las reglas de Medicaid son bastante distintas para personas individuales y para las parejas del mismo sexo que para las parejas heterosexuales casadas.

June 2011 | Arlene Zarembka

Creación y Protección de Derechos Legales Personales y Financieros

La planificación del patrimonio correcta te ayudará a garantizar que la persona de tu elección pueda cumplir tus deseos en caso de tú quedar discapacitado. Sin la planificación debida, podría designarse a alguien para que tome decisiones médicas y financieras en tu nombre que no cumpla con tus deseos.