Description of My Time with (OLOC) at SAGE Roundtable & (LAIN) Meeting at and before American Society on Aging in Las Vegas

(Mina and I stayed at the Paris Hotel, well designed place given what it is- a gambling mecca, Ballys was the second hotel used by ASA)

It has been quite a week attending and presenting both before and during meetings at the annual American Society on Aging Conference in Las Vegas. Mina and I attended as OLOC representatives along with our immediate past Co-chair of OLOC Shaba Barner, immedicate past Co-Chair of Old Lesbians Organizing for Changee, and Ruth Debra who is on the Steering Committee with MIna. I gave a talk on what I do as Research Gatekeeper. We are satisfied with the attendance that occurred at our presenatation and all the information we put out on the table was gone after our session so there must have been strong interest.

Karen Taylor was there representing SAGE (Senior Advocacy and Service for Gay Elders of New York). All day Saturday (March 15th), we spent networking and working in groups at the roundtable which is a joint operation of The LGBT Taskforce and SAGE, NY soon to be under SAGE leadership completely. Agencies and program from all over the country were in attendance. The Roundtable consisted of about 22 individuals who were there representing a wide variety of groups and organizations that serve or cater to older LGBT people on some level. OLOC was the only membership group attending, the rest seemed to be agenices or programs geared to aging concerns. OLOC is a grassroots movement organization which fights ageism and bring the message of OLD LESBIAN PRIDE to the old generation, over 60 population of OLD LESBIANS.

In addition to my activities with LGBT aging, I also presented a workshop with a graduate student from my campus on the topic of "An Older Adult Center on a University Campus". I also attended my student's session which focused on S. East Asian Experience (Indians from India) using a novel theory on Aging in Place of Choice. I would give names but sadly I think this student might prefer not to be named on a blog titled Leftunronrights etc.

I also participated and volunteered to be part of LAIN (LGBT aging interest network at ASA) ClearingHouse Committee which collects and runs an online website of LGBT references and annotated information on all aspects of aging as it affects LGBT persons. I talked abut gathering information on ageism as it affects LGBT folks among other resources and articles that I come across over the year. We (MIna and I ) attended the peer group session of LAIN and also went to the workshop on the second publication of the pdf document OUTINGAGE which is put out by the LGBT Taskforce. Collected information at that session that was very helpful about federal grants that are available for the kind of project and services we tend to want to produce.

Mina and I attended one evening entertainment part of the conference on Wed. at 5:30 which featured Debbie Reynolds, the movie star who was so popular when Mina and I were growing up and also when we were teenagers. She did a great show, singing, dancing, telling jokes but at a certain point the audience was frightened as Ms. Reynolds appeared to have a fainting spell (what we thought was a TIA) but she did recover quickly and finished the night to great applause. What a trooper!!! We were blown away. The show wasn't that ageist either, only a few self deprecating comments about her looks though she looked swell, actually the same image is projected as she was when we were young. Of course, what it takes for Debbie to get that image across makes her the victim of the worst kind of ageism and I suppose we as the audience were continuing the problem but I must say I loved her humor and the sincere heartfelt comments she shared with us. Just a real walk down memory lane which is what the show is supposed to be. At one point she mentioned to the younger members of the audience that if they were trying to figure out who she was that she is the mother of Queen Leah from the the movie Starwars. I thought it was funny the way she pulled that one off.

In any case, I think OLOC was well represented. Shaba Barnes and Ruth Debra did very well with their speeches. The mostly forty and fifty year olds who attended our session titled "OLd Lesbians Organizing for Change" appeared to be ready and anxious to join us one day when they reach the age of 60 themselves. It was fun all the way around. We got some gambling in and came home with some money which is better than coming home with Notta. . When we got home all our flowers were in full bloom especially the azaleas and irises. The weather is foggy and cold early morning and later at night and during the day kind of on the warmer side so that is good growing weather I think. I am happy to be home. 6 days in Vegas is a bit much.

Off to the American Society on Aging Conference in Las Vegas

I am leaving for a week to attend American Society on Aging meetings in Las Vegas. We ( Sharon and Mina) will give a presentation about our organization with OLOC Steering Committee members and a former member of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, our history, philosophy, what we do, how we impact Old Lesbians and in my case how I developed and process our research requirements for applicants attempting to do research and who request access via ads about the research sent to OLOC membership newsletter and lists. Wed. 4-5 pm. Paris-Versailles Mo 277

I will also co present a powerpoint presentation on The Older Adult Center located on my campus of Cal. State Univ. Dominguez Hills. The co-presenter is Ritwik Nath, who recently graduated from the Gerontology Option at CSUDH. Ritwik is Director of the Older Adult Center and I am the faculty adviser of the OAC. We will be sharing our experiences and provide information about the Center which includes trends and future issues. Our session is Monday 12:30-1:30. Paris. Bordeaux WE 14

Looking forward to seeing and networking when I get there.

SRaphael

The Report: Gay Unions won't be in Census

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The Report: Gay unions won't be in census taken from Smart Brief

Mina and I are quoted in this article.

SRaphael

By John Canalis, Staff Writer Long Beach Press-Telegram
Posted: 03/08/2009 10:09:54 PM PDT

No matter the legal fate of Proposition 8, the 2010 Census will not count same-sex marriages or ask respondents about their sexual orientation.

The federal Defense of Marriage Act signed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton does not recognize gay unions sanctioned by states.

Census takers will ask same-sex couples who live together to define themselves as "unmarried partners," as they did in 2000 before some states - currently only Connecticut and Massachusetts - allowed gay marriage.

"This is all about the numbers. This not about lifestyle or anything else," says U.S. Census spokeswoman Cynthia Endo.

The omission of gay marriage and sexuality questions on the census bothers some gays and lesbians, who argue that a proper accounting would give them the same visibility as minorities, who gain political power when their numbers increase.

"I am a sociologist and census data \ very important to our existence, and I don't like it when they leave things out, it causes an undercount," says Sharon Raphael, 67, who teaches gerontology at Cal State Dominguez Hills. "Certain numbers of us are not out, and when they hide us under these general descriptions ... it just makes us more invisible."

Raphael's partner, Mina Meyer, 69, says she will probably check the "married" box when the census form arrives at their East Long Beach home.

"Somebody needs to read that, somebody in those offices needs to know there are people out

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here who are married," Meyer says, adding that she and Raphael married in California when it was legal last year.
Though the census will not count gay marriages, domestic partnerships, civil union or the numbers of gays and lesbians, the questionnaire should provide some insight, albeit indirectly, into those areas.

The census form, Endo says, allows respondents to identify the number of adults in a given household and their relationship. Along with husband and wife, one of those choices is "unmarried partner."

If two people of the same sex identify as husband and husband or wife and wife, the census will retain that answer, but when results are released those people will be counted as unmarried partners.

"The census is all about self-identification," Endo says. "We don't ask that question \ on the census at all, but certain information can be gleaned from that if two people are living ... in the house."

Same-sex couples with children will not be categorized as "families" on the census. Children will be counted as belonging to single parents, those "unmarried partners."

"That's totally unfair," Raphael says. "We should be treated the same. First of all, it's just not good science to leave us out for some dumb political reason."

Gary Gates, a demographer at the UCLA School of Law, says federal law limits census questions to topics for which there is funding, such as income's influence on poverty funding.

There is not a federal funding category for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered, or LGBT, communities.

"The truth is there is no federal legislation that would be relevant on having information on LGBT people," he says.

He calls that situation a "classic Catch-22" because it is hard to properly assess needs of a group that has not been counted.

"We have no population-based survey that asks sexual orientation annually in this country," Gates says, adding that health care is one obvious place where an accurate LGBT count would help.

He encourages cities like Long Beach to use community surveys to get information on the gay community the federal government does not gather.

Conservative groups tend to support the census the way it is. In a statement, ProtectMarriage.com, a group that backed Proposition 8, says, "The way that the federal government looks at it is the way that the law says it should be in California."

It is too late to add questions before 2010. Congress, by law, must approve the questions for the census no later than two years in advance of the count.

"It takes an act of Congress to change the questions on the census forms," Endo says. "If somebody would want something changed they would have to start petitioning now."

john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273

Obama and The Economy: Is there Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I am no expert on the economy but it seems not too many claim to understand how to fix what is going on, although today was the first time I heard someone on the tube say we were in a mini depression. Mini-my arse. I am very pleased with Obama's presence on the American scene politically and his position on the economy appears to be left of center with an emphasis on helping people with lower incomes rather than continuing to coddle the well to do. He also seems capable of making big decisions when necessary not little incremental ones. That I like. However, I think the public should be realizing by now this economy is not going to be fixed in a year or two or three.

There are too many problem that have gone unattended to for too long. Unregulated capitalism has turned on itself and the greedy managers and owners of most of our wealth are reaping the negative spoils that come from not investing in our infrastructure for the last 40 years instead trying to make money by manipulating paper and electronic money machines. Bernie Madoff is not the only crook in this sorry story. There are plenty of investor manipulators who made a mess of our economy totally legally. It is true all the finger pointing is aimed at the housing market as it seemed to start there. It was clear housing prices have been inflated for the past ten years and credit was too easy to obtain more recently. But that was probably the straw that broke the camel's back more than the real cause of our economic distress.

I do not claim to be an economist or even a person who is terribly knowledgeable about economic matters but I am a citizen who has lived in this economy for 67 years and know that the problems we face stem from an insensitivity to the needs of the public and the average person especially toward those who struggle every day to make ends meet. The greedy capitalists forgot that their profits are made off the many little people they exploit and depend on to keep the economy working smoothly. You can only "Let the Buyer Beware" for so long until the buyer begins to reject if not outright bite the hand-the economic production machine- that feeds him or her every day.

If Obama can give relief in the form of universal health, enough job creation, and educational incentives, then, perhaps, the uphill economic struggle we face will not be so steep. On the other hand, I do not see how the economy can turn around to help the former middle class falling into disarray unless the basic economic engine we depend on is overhauled to take the needs of its poorer and more vulnerable individuals into consideration. Given the way things are looking even the well off can be affected severely. No one is exempt from the whims of a system built to some extent by groups and individuals who make money by gambling and hoping that certain investments and companies will not succeed- the Contrarians and others who think the way to happiness is to get rich quick off the backs of the very ones who once had the potential to make this country strong and safe-the average consumer who gets swindled every day he or she buys a box of cereal with little in it or drinks a carton of milk tainted with unhealthy additives. More to the point the average consumer who has decided not to consume the very items this economy depends on to have a going economic future-cars, houses, other big ticket items.

We were taught the Great Depression that happened in the thirties could not return again. We have safeguards and I do believe
FDIC covered accounts are what is keeping us from going over the deep end. But something seems astirring. Things just don't feel right. One man, one President can't undo all the wrongs Bush and his Republican ilk foisted on us for so many years. The Dems are not guiltfree either. Clinton said "the day of big government was over" when he took office.

Though I don't fault Clinton as at least he kept the budget under control and didn't take us into any inane warfare. He kept The Peace as best he could. The Iraq War was a terrible waste of humans (soldiers and the others we killed or maimed) and money that went to an immoral War. Obama has to clean up the muck that Bush created and no one will ever be able to really clean it up. It has stained all of us to some degree or another. Obama is pushing us in the right direction. The issue is will the push be fast and big enough to make a difference.

I like the fact Obama seems unafraid of the naysayers and his critics. He is going full steam ahead. I can only hope he keeps on going all the way until he takes every single one of us with him, the homeless who need shelter, The Lesbian and Gay man who want the right to marry and to have social security too, the family needing health care, the boy or girl questing an education, the disabled who need special services, the old who don't want the budget balanced on the backs of the old who really need the kind of medicare and social security coverage that matters. I know it is a big balancing act but I hope the balance makes a left turn on rights. From my point of view, the light at the end of the tunnel will come only if the economy is restructured enough to include the hopes and dreams of the many not just the few.

Sharon Raphael

Anne Frank's Rescuer Turns 100

I read today that the woman On Sunday, Miep Gies, just celebrated her 100th birthday. Miep Gies kept the diary that Anne wrote and returned it to Anne's Father when he returned from the camps. She also corresponds with people who write her about Anne and The Holocaust. She is in relatively good health in spite of having a stroke some years ago. I have concluded that Miep's meaningful life and long years are a reward for the good deeds she did those many years ago. How many live to be 100? and yes I know this conclusion does not coincide with my agnostic really more atheistic beliefs but the intent and feeling are heartfelt.


http://news.aol.com/article/rescuer-of-anne-franks-diary-turns-100/340447

Our New Paint Job in our House

We (Mina and I) changed the color in our living room, kitchen, and hallway from salmon to yellow. Two walls have a textured yellow with red highlights. The yellow or golden color opened up the rooms as compared to the old "brightish" salmon color which we liked for years. We like folk art so that is what you see around the rooms. It was time for a change.

Sharon Raphael

I Am Worried About Obama and Our Gay Agenda

I am hoping Obama's economic stimulus package is passed, the sooner the better. I think he is moving in the right direction when it comes to the economy, My only criticism is that I wish Obama was not reaching out to the Republicans and Fundamentalist Christian leaders so avidly. He reminds me of Clinton who always seemed to want everyone to love him all at the same time which is impossible when one is making hard decisions with the public in mind.

When it comes to our Gay agenda, more equal rights for LGBT folks, the end to the defense of marriage act, Gays in the military and the end of Don't Ask, don't Tell, I am worried. A friend told me that he doesn't think much will happen under Obama regarding LGBT rights at least not in a big way because Obama has made no high level appointments nor does he have high level advisers who are LGBT. I keep thinking maybe there is someone we could cultivate or who we already have but I can't think anyone who is really out besides Barney Frank, the Congressman from Massachusetts.. Unfortunately for us Barney Frank's interests seem to be focused on the financial arena these days not Gay Rights and I am not sure Barney Frank would be the best spokesperson for our cause.

Our best hope seems to reside in the courts and at this moment I am looking at the State Supreme Court of California to see what they do about the insidious anti Gay Marriage bill known as Proposition 8 which was passed because 2% more of the voting public in California who went to the polls for whatever reason voted against Gay Marriage in spite of fact some pollsters say if they voted today, the vote would go the other way. We can hope Obama makes some Supreme Court appointments that go our way but there again it seems his job will be just replacing aging or ailing Democratic or liberal to moderate leaning top court judges.

Obama talks a good game about LGBT issues. When criticized for the Rick Warren episode, Obama's defense was to say he was
a staunch supporter of LGBT equality but the words lately ring hollow. We need so much change and I don't see it even just beginning for us. I know Obama's number one priority is the economy but LGBT citizens pay taxes and work and many hire people from all walks of life and across all job types. Why not enlist the help of the vibrant Gay community when it comes to stimulating the economy.

I know one thing, when we were getting married in California , all 36,000 of us we spent a lot of money buying all kinds of items and commodities to enhance our marriages. We are the artists, the make up people in Hollywood, the truck driver on the road, the manufacturer and creators of all kinds of businesses that count in America, clothing, perfume, makeup, furniture, food, restaurants and everything else under the sun we can think of. We are creative and have perpetual energy if only given the chance. Why not channel many LGBT folks into Obama's stimulus package. Yes, why not indeed. We are ready and willing. Let's go. We are the change you can count on.

Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
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