The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Recent studies have shown that lifelong experiences of marginalization place lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) seniors at high risk for isolation, poverty, homelessness, and premature institutionalization. Moreover, many LGBT seniors are members of multiple underrepresented groups, and as a result, are doubly marginalized. Due to these factors, many LGBT seniors avoid accessing elder programs and services, even when their health, safety, and security depend on it.
(b) LGBT seniors often lack social and family support networks available to non-LGBT seniors. They may face particular health risks, as disease prevention strategies often ignore LGBT seniors, and HIV and AIDS drug trials generally do not include older participants.
(c) LGBT seniors are denied many vital financial benefits provided to heterosexual married couples. For example, surviving same-sex partners are denied the social security benefits that married couples are provided, and may face heavy taxes on the transfer of assets upon the death of a partner. Moreover, even under California law, LGBT seniors are denied equal long-term care insurance protections. This costs LGBT seniors hundreds of millions of dollars each year in lost benefits.
(d) The number of people 65 years of age and older in California is estimated to double to 6.5 million by the year 2020, thereby increasing the number of LGBT seniors who are receiving inadequate services.
(e) Ensuring that the needs of LGBT seniors as well as other underrepresented groups are adequately assessed during the planning and development of programs and services will increase access to the programs administered by the California Department of Aging and the area agencies on aging.
(f) California leads the nation in the protections it affords to LGBT persons. As the failure to meet the needs of LGBT seniors is a problem of national scope, including LGBT seniors and other underrepresented groups in need of assessment and area plan process will help the state to be a model for change in other states and at the federal level.
(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 130, Sec. 245. Effective January 1, 2008.)
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