Visibility Matters
By Sarah Bahnson, LGBTQI+ Initiatives Specialist Making Rainbow Connections
Bears of the Old Pueblo – a membership- based organization offering social opportunities for bears, bearish, and burly gay and bisexual men. Join the Bears for brunch, lunch, or beer. The Bears of the Old Pueblo have weekly and monthly opportunities to connect. Bears of the Old Pueblo (botop.org) Fit Lesbians Unite, Meander in Tucson, and Tucson Single Lesbian Social Hour are just a few groups for lesbians available through Meetup. Enjoy exercising with friends, coffee dates, or just meeting new people, this is a great way to connect. Visit meetup.com for more information. Desert Voices is an LGBTQIA+ chorus. Desert Voices accepts new members twice a year, in August and September, and again in January and February. To learn more about concert schedules or membership, visit desertvoices.org or call (520) 791-9662. Reveille Men’s Chorus is a gay men's chorus that accepts new members year- round. To learn more about concerts or membership visit reveillechorus.org. To learn about local LGBTQI+ welcoming events, businesses, bars, service
Aging with Pride
If you have read my column over the last few years or attended a Visibility Matters training, you may be familiar with the statistic: LGBTQ+ older adults are twice as likely to be single and living alone, and four times less likely to have children. Research over the last couple of years has illuminated the harmful effects of social isolation, and LGBTQI+ older adults are more likely to experience the effects of isolation. But in Pima County, LGBTQI+ older adults have opportunities to engage with LGBTQI+ people, building community and connections. Doing so can protect against the impact of social isolation. If you or a loved one is looking to make connections with other LGBTQI+ folks, here are a few fun options: Southern Arizona Senior Pride – a socially- driven organization offering friendly phone calls and visits, walks around the Tucson area, a reading club, and more. To learn more about Senior Pride visit soazseniorpride.org.
organizations, and more, GayTucson. com is an excellent resource database. Featuring LGBTQI+-related blogs, articles, and anything you might want to know about LGBTQI+ life in Tucson, it is a wonderful resource to connect with peers. Lastly, PCOA partners with Southern Arizona Senior Pride to offer an inclusive Memory Café, which provides social opportunities for LGBTQI+ people and allies living with Alzheimer's and related dementias. Held at The Katie Dusenberry Healthy Aging Center at 600 S. Country Club, the cafés meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. At an inclusive Memory Café, you may expect to enjoy a musical sing-along, art projects, Pima County Book Bike, and more. To learn more visit pcoa.org or call our Helpline at (520) 790-7262. Socialization is an important facet of life and connecting with peers can be as simple as a phone call or email. Building relationships and support can help you live with vibrance and fulfillment. Walk & Roll; 4th Tuesday ; 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. Book Club ; 3rd Wednesday; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.; via Zoom Monthly Potluck ; Last Saturday; 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tech Time ; 2nd Monday; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Pickleball ; 1st Saturday; 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Dolphin Swim Club ; 2nd Tuesday (Bimonthly); 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Southern Arizona Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults (520) 312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org There are many events each month, so check out our website: soazseniorpride.org
LBTQI+ Women’s Grief Support Group ; weekly on Thursday; 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.; via Zoom Gayme Day ; 2nd Tuesday; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Meditation Circle ; 2nd & 4th Sundays; 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Gathering in the Park ; 3rd Saturday; Start time varies
On-going events: Advance registration required to attend: soazseniorpride.org LBTQI+ Women’s Grief Group ; weekly on Monday; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.; in-person GBTQI+ Men’s Loss Support Group ;
weekly on Tuesday; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
July/August 2024, Never Too Late | Page 29
Pima Council on Aging
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