From the Philadelphia Gay News
By Paige Cooperstein
March 31, 2016
Almost two years have passed since the last time the LGBT Elder Initiative invited the community to take part in a discussion about women’s sexual health and aging.
“LGBT women have limited resources when it comes to sexual health and are often uncomfortable when being assessed by healthcare providers,” Jennifer Barnhart, co-chair of the LGBTEI Program Committee wrote in an email to PGN. “LGBT women deserve an environment of dignity, understanding and respect that promotes positive sexual health as we age. There is a community of support with resources and a growing understanding of the needs of LGBT women and our sexual health.”
The conversation, called “Women’s Sexuality as We Age,” takes place from 12:30-3:30 p.m. April 9 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. It’s free to attend and will cover coming out to your health-care provider and exploring sexual pleasure with age.
The women’s sexuality event joins two other free events this month: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, a conversation on HIV and aging; and Balancing Dollars and $en$e, a program about financial literacy and housing.
David Griffith, director of programs and outreach for LGBTEI, said the organization aims to grow its programming this year and has taken advantage of partnerships with other organizations to make it happen.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body represents a collaboration with the Positive Committee at the Office of HIV Planning. It takes place from noon-2 p.m. April 11 at the office, 340 N. 12th St. Balancing Dollars and $en$e is being co-hosted with Center in the Park, a senior center in Germantown. It takes place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15 at the center, 5818 Germantown Ave.
“It all ties into making sure older adults feel empowered to have open, honest conversations,” Griffith said. “Many older adults have had a lot of experience with discrimination that may have enforced the idea of staying in the closet with their doctors or lawyers.
“You need to be able to talk about your relationships and the important people in your life,” he continued. “Being able to have an open, honest and respectful conversation that actually gets to the needs you have is important.
To register for the workshops on women’s sexuality or HIV and aging, contact the LGBT Elder Initiative at 215-720-9415 or info@lgbtei.org.
For the financial workshop, contact Center in the Park at 215-848-7722 ext. 225 or visit http://bit.ly/2016dollarsandsense. The deadline to register is April 8. The free lunch is only available to those who have registered.