Celebrating the Launch of AgeFWD
Celebrating the Launch of AgeFWD: Building the Future of Inclusive Aging Together
On May 6, The Pride Chamber proudly celebrated the official ribbon cutting for AgeFWD — a milestone that represented much more than the launch of a new initiative. It is the beginning of a community-centered movement toward dignity, inclusion, education, advocacy, and compassion for LGBTQ+ older adults in Central Florida.
We came together at the May 6th event to celebrate and to reflect on why this work matters so deeply. Across the country, LGBTQ+ older adults continue to face disparities in healthcare, social support, housing, caregiving, and end-of-life planning. Many individuals have lived through decades of discrimination, social isolation, or systems that failed to recognize and affirm their identities. As they age, those experiences do not disappear – they become more complex.
At the same time, there are countless professionals, caregivers, organizations, advocates, friends, and allies who genuinely care and strive to continually improve in their service to LGBTQ+ older adults — and AgeFWD exists to help bring those professionals together and increase identity-educated affirming care.
The ribbon cutting was a celebration of that shared commitment.
Community leaders, professionals, advocates, nonprofit partners, and supporters gathered to recognize the importance of creating affirming spaces where professionals who serve LGBTQ+ older adults can word together to foster a community where everyone can age with dignity, respect, safety, and connection. The event was filled with meaningful conversations, new partnerships, and a collective sense of hope for what we can build together.
We are so grateful to everyone who attended, encouraged, supported, and helped make this event possible. Every conversation, every connection, and every act of support helps move this mission forward.
I want to recognize our catalyst crew – the AgeFWD team who created this amazing event and the foundation of the program we came together to celebrate. You can find us on the AgeFWD web page.
We are also incredibly grateful to Dignity Memorial for sponsoring the event and for awarding a $2,500 grant to establish a scholarship fund for AgeFWD to assist small businesses and professionals with relevant competency courses and certifications.
View Photos from the Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Article & Photos from Watermark OUT News
The Four Pillars of AgeFWD
At its heart, AgeFWD is built on four core pillars that guide our mission and shape our work.
1. A Network of Affirming Professionals
One of the greatest needs facing LGBTQ+ older adults is access to professionals who are not only welcoming, but identity-educated and prepared to serve this community with competence and compassion.
AgeFWD is committed to building a network of affirming professionals across industries including healthcare, senior living, estate planning, caregiving, housing, financial services, funeral service, hospice care, and beyond.
Being affirming means more than displaying inclusive language or symbols. It means understanding lived experiences, recognizing disparities, respecting identities, and creating environments where people feel safe, seen, and valued.
Our goal is to help professionals grow in cultural competency while making it easier for LGBTQ+ older adults and their families to identify supportive providers they can trust.
2. Access to Resources and Support
Important work is already being done locally and nationally to support LGBTQ+ older adults and the professionals who serve them. AgeFWD will amplify those efforts rather than reinventing them.
We are committed to connecting individuals and professionals with educational resources, trainings, community opportunities, advocacy organizations, and support systems that already exist. By helping people access these tools, we can strengthen collaboration and expand the reach of meaningful programs already making a difference.
This pillar is also about reducing isolation and increasing awareness. Many people simply do not know where to turn for affirming support, whether they are seeking healthcare providers, caregiving resources, educational opportunities, or community connection.
The AgeFWD Scholarship, established by Dignity Memorial through it’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, SCI UNITE, will allow us to assist small businesses and individuals with access to competency education and certifications for serving LGBTQ+ older adults.
AgeFWD will serve as a bridge — helping people find the support and resources they need and encouraging continued learning and growth.
3. Local Educational Activities and Events
Education is the key for all of us – the more we know, the better we can serve.
Communities become stronger when people learn together, ask thoughtful questions, and engage in meaningful conversations about aging, inclusion, dignity, and care.
That is why local educational activities and events are a central part of our mission.
These gatherings will create opportunities for professionals to come together in a spirit of collaboration and curiosity. Through our educational events, we will work to foster conversations that lead to tangible improvements in how LGBTQ+ older adults are supported throughout every stage of life.
We know no one person or organization has all the answers. But when communities commit to learning together, we can create real, meaningful change.
4. Making a Difference Together
AgeFWD will be more than a professional network or educational initiative. It is a community rooted in action.
As an audaciously compassionate group, we believe service matters. Communities are healthier when people actively show up for one another and meaningful change happens when compassion moves beyond conversation and into action.
So look for us out there in our community doing service projects and making a difference together.
In the months ahead, we look forward to participating in volunteer projects, supporting local initiatives, partnering with nonprofits, and finding opportunities to serve together in ways that directly impact the lives of older adults in our community.
We’re not just here to talk about about inclusion; we’re here to practice it.
Continuing the Conversation: Upcoming Educational Events
The ribbon cutting marked the official launch of AgeFWD – and now we roll up our sleeves and begin the next phase of this important work.
We’re excited to share an upcoming three-part educational series focused on affirming care for LGBTQ+ older adults. These events are intended for professionals, caregivers, advocates, students, community members, and anyone interested in building a more inclusive future for aging adults.
They will also provide the AgeFWD team an opportunity to hear from the community we serve so that we can build our programming for 2027.
Here are our 2026 upcoming networking & educational discussion events.
- We’re getting these up on The Pride Chamber Calendar – you can keep an eye out or email me at AgeFWD@thepridechamber.org and i’ll send you the link when they are posted.
June: Aging in Place & Life Transitions
Our first event will focus on aging in place and major life transitions. Topics will include caregiving, housing, social connection, planning for the future, and the unique challenges LGBTQ+ older adults may face while navigating support systems and finding affirming environments.
September: Affirming Healthcare for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
The second event will explore healthcare experiences and the importance of culturally competent care. Together, we will discuss trust, communication, patient advocacy, barriers to access, and how healthcare professionals can create safer and more affirming experiences for LGBTQ+ older adults.
November: Inclusive Deathcare & End-of-Life Support
Our third event will center on deathcare, end-of-life planning, and affirming support during life’s most vulnerable moments. This conversation will explore the importance of funeral professionals, cemeteries, hospice providers, and caregivers serving LGBTQ+ individuals and families with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Looking Ahead
The launch of AgeFWD was an exciting moment that represented the foundation our team has been building for almost a year. The next phase of the work begins now.
We envision a future where LGBTQ+ older adults can confidently access affirming care, supportive services, compassionate professionals, and connected communities. A future where education continues to replace misunderstanding. A future where aging with dignity is not the exception, but the expectation.
There are so many things that need to fall into place to achieve that vision – our piece of that puzzle is to support professionals in our community who serve LGBTQ+ older adults, providing programming and resources that align with our four program pillars.
There is still so very much work to do — but the ribbon cutting reminded us that this work is possible when people come together with purpose, empathy, and a willingness to act.
Thank you to everyone who has supported AgeFWD and believed in this mission. We are excited for what comes next, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
