Community leaders, elder service providers, LGBT adults and allies were invited to a community forum at Bristol Elder Services (BES) on September 24, 2012 to discuss important issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults in the Greater Fall River and Taunton Area. Topics included LGBT-friendly resources and services, brainstorming future social and educational program for LGBT older adults, and forming local alliances of allies and community members interested in issues of LGBT aging. The free forum was part of the LGBT Aging Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults have equal access to the life-prolonging benefits, protections, services and institutions that their heterosexual neighbors take for granted. The event followed a showing of the film "Gen Silent" at White's Restaurant earlier in the month. Click here for an eleven-minute video of the introduction to the conversation by Trish Hunter of BES and Bob Linscott of the LGBT Aging Project. For more information about the project, contact Trish Hunter at 508-675-2101.

(Top row) Westport attorney Jennifer Heald chats with Bristol Elder Services Director of Planning and Community Development Trish Hunter before the program begins. (Top row, center) Ms. Heald is greeted by Karen Scott-Statser of Bristol Elder Services. (Top row, right) Fall River resident Cathy Viveiros introduces her son, Mark, to the group. (Middle row) Bob Linscott of the LGBT Aging Project opens the conversation by asking folks to talk about their concerns, and Diane Patalano and responds while Joan Ayers listens. (Bottom row) Paulette Gagnon, Shirley Martin and Laura Flynn listen as Laura Campbell of the UMass-Dartmouth Gerontology Center introduces herself.