SAGE AND PARTNERS SPEARHEADING AGING WITH HIV RECOMMENDATIONS TO NY STATE. SAGE is advocating for LGBT older adults living with HIV at the New York State level. Governor Cuomo convened a task force to create a blueprint to “End the Epidemic.” Released in April of 2015, this comprehensive initiative outlined 37 recommendations to decrease new HIV infections to the point where, by the end of 2020, the number of persons living with HIV in New York State will be reduced for the first time. Despite the greying of the HIV+ population, the blueprint lacks interventions specific to older adults. To correct that, in the fall of 2015, Governor Cuomo convened an Older Adults Advisory Group of the End the Epidemic Task Force and appointed SAGE to work with our partners to identify intervention strategies specific to older adults, which will be rolled out in mid-2016.

SAGE RELEASES NEW YORK STATE POLICY AGENDA TO ADDRESS LGBT AGING AND LGBT OLDER ADULTS. In December of 2015, SAGE unveiled its first-ever NYS policy agenda. Recognizing that while New York State has made some important strides towards ensuring equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, LGBT older adults have critical needs and face great disparities that must be addressed by our state government in order to access the supports they need and age safely with dignity and respect.

SAGE OPENS FIRST SENIOR CENTER FOR LGBT ELDERS. On March 1, 2012—after years of local policy advocacy—SAGE opened The SAGE Center, the nation's first full-time innovative LGBT senior center, offering services to LGBT older people throughout New York City. SAGE thanks the following people and funders that made The SAGE Center possible: New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Members of the Council; Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer; The Calamus Foundation; The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation; The Booth Ferris Foundation; FJC-A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds; The David Bohnett Foundation. The SAGE Center is funded in part by the New York City Department for the Aging.

MEDICAID PROTECTIONS AND NEW YORK. In November 2011, a month after SAGE issued guidance on these protections to New York State officials, New York extended spousal impoverishment protections to all legally married couples. These protections legally ensure that the healthy partner of a married same-sex couple can continue to reside at home while the other partner lives at a long-term care facility. It also prevents harmful financial penalties for transferring assets to one's spouse or partner. Read SAGE's white paper on "spousal impoverishment protections" in New York State. ▶

SAGE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT LGBT ELDERS ACCEPTED BY NYSOFA. In October 2011, the New York State Office of the Aging (NYSOFA) incorporated our recommendations on ways to protect LGBT elders in their five-year plan for aging service provisions in the state. SAGE's recommendations included: prioritize health services and prevention programs to LGBT older adults; increase attention on elder abuse among LGBT older adults; design and implement programs that recognize unique family structures, such as families of choice; and collect and assess data on State Aging programs to ensure LGBT older adults are being served. The plan went into effect October 1, 2011 and will be active until September 30, 2015. SAGE will be working with NYSOFA to ensure that they hold to their current commitments to the LGBT community and strengthen their supports for LGBT New Yorkers in the next five-year plan.

SAGE HOSTS DISCUSSION ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. In October 2011, Dr. Jaime Torres, Regional Director of New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, came to SAGE to lead a discussion on the Affordable Care Act and how its policies may affect LGBT older adults in New York City. Dr. Torres gave SAGE constituents an overview of the Affordable Care Act and the new policies designed to improve their health, including increased prevention and wellness benefits, changes in prescription drug coverage, and reforms in Medicare, Medicaid and broader healthcare policies. More on health reform. ▶

SAGE ADVOCATES IN NY STATE ON CRITICAL LGBT AGING ISSUES. On May 18, 2011, SAGE and other representatives from New York aging organizations took part in a roundtable discussion with State Senators David J. Valesky and Martin J. Golden to argue against dissolving the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and merging aging issues under the Department of Health—an option proposed by Governor Cuomo's Sage Commission, which was tasked with streamlining government and making it more cost-effective. SAGE spoke about how such a move would hurt LGBT elders. Ultimately, the option did not go through, preserving NYSOFA.

NEW YORK STATE PASSES IMPORTANT LEGISLATION TO AID LGBT ELDERS. In June 2011, marking LGBT Pride month, the New York State Senate passed historic legislation that requires the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) to assess the needs of traditionally underserved elders, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults, and to provide technical assistance to the organizations that serve LGBT older adults. This bill, sponsored by New York State Senator Thomas K. Duane and Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner, was signed by Governor Cuomo in September 2011 and became effective immediately, ensuring that LGBT older adults will be able to find culturally competent and sensitive care statewide. This legislation is a tremendous step forward for LGBT older adults, who are more likely to delay seeking care because of fears of discrimination and abuse.

SAGE COUPLE FIRST TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED IN NEW YORK CITY. In the spring and summer of 2011, SAGE and the LGBT community worked with our partners in the marriage equality movement to bring marriage equality to New York State. Eight SAGE constituents were among the delegation of LGBT activists who traveled to Albany for Equality and Justice Day, Empire State Pride Agenda's annual advocacy day. There, they attended a rally and met with state legislators to discuss issues from marriage equality to affordable housing—talks that paid off when marriage equality passed in New York in June. And on Sunday, July 24 longtime SAGE members Connie Kopolov, 84, and Phyllis Siegal, 76, became the first couple to legally marry in New York City in a ceremony hosted by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. SAGE Harlem participants Michael Johnson, 54, and Michael Roberts, 82, were also among the couples wed during Speaker Quinn's event. Congratulations to Connie and Phyllis, and Michael and Michael!