As two white gay men leading national organizations focused on older Americans, the killing of George Floyd and many other manifestations of systemic racism in this country have reminded us of a lesson we must not forget this month or in the weeks, months and years to come: There can never be equity and equality for older Americans, for LGBTQ people or for anybody else until we dismantle white supremacy in this country and replace it with racial equity.
A deadly health threat that disproportionately sickens and kills older people as a whole gets minimized by the president and his followers, who decide that it’s worth the sacrifice of Black and brown lives to ignore the pandemic in favor of political posturing and reckless disregard of public health.
And we pledge to ensure that the organizations we head — the American Society on Aging and SAGE — will stand up for Black and brown older people and stand against systemic racism.
This agenda insists on equity in health care and elder services for Black elders and elders of color and will fight for an equitable distribution of resources to organizations working with older Americans in people of color communities.
During this month of Pride, we pledge to honor our elders — including the brave pioneers at Stonewall on whose shoulders we stand as gay men — by fully engaging in this historic struggle for an America where all people can thrive and where Black Lives Matter.
