Hello there, You raise very important questions as they get to the heart of why there is a need for SAGE. If there was no inequality in the way all citizens were treated, there would not be a need for SAGE. But the reality is that LGBT elders are a population that is marginalized, underfinanced and invisible to the greater population. It would be marvelous if all health professionals were trained to understand all aspects of minority populations and their specific needs. It is true that there are many similarities among elders, as you mentioned. But the reality is that black, asian, hispanic, native american elders have their own needs while they also have elders with disabilities and could also be lgbt. Most of the minimal funding goes to senior programs which basically assume that all are white and heterosexual. So while this inequality in training and funding exists, we need to have specific programs for those needs that are not being met even though there are similarities in aging. I am assuming you are heterosexual which means that you have organizations already available to you. These organizations can deal with your questions around aging though, regretably, they are also underfunded. Just as you would want to see a health care person who was knowledgeable and could recognize your needs, so would all the other minority persons who have experienced discrimination in their past. Aging is a complex process and we all want the best service available so that all our individual complexity is recognized. All these organizations for minorities are simply trying to have what the mainstream (read that as white, heterosexual and middleclassed)organizations are doing already. Thank you for recognizing some of the similarities among all peoples and questioning why there is a need for separate progams. Harold
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