Golden Gays

Golden Gays is an affectionate term for LGBTQ+ elders, the senior members of the community. It honors people who came of age before Stonewall, lived through decades of criminalization and stigma, and survived the height of the AIDS crisis, often losing partners and friends. The phrase plays on the idea of "golden years" while celebrating queer longevity and history. Organizations like SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), founded in 1978 and the oldest of its kind in the United States, focus specifically on this population, from housing and caregiving to combating isolation. The name is also carried by the Golden Gays of Manila, a well-known home and performance troupe for elderly gay Filipino men.