The aging (and thriving) queer community you never knew about.

HOW TO BUILD COMMUNITY: When Susie Broussard moved to Sun City to take care of her mother a decade ago, she fell in love with the age-restricted village because of its vast amenities. So when she was at the age where she was eligible to buy property, she did so immediately.

But being in Sun City was challenging, especially as an openly gay person who thrived off being around other queer people. Sun City, she said, sorely lacked a visible community, even though hundreds of people were part of a local LGBT club.

So, she decided that if she wanted it, she would have to build one of her own.

It didn't come without its own set of challenges, including dispelling lots of religious discussions and changing people's minds that they didn't need to be silent or kept secret. But in the end, she helped shape the town to be a home for a growing number of aging queers. Read our story below.

How an older lesbian uplifted Sun City’s queer community

In the face of an elderly loneliness epidemic, Susie Broussard revamped her local club to help the retirement town’s isolated LGBTQ+ residents.

LOOKOUTFitzwilliam Anderson (he/him)

LOOKOUT'S TAKE: Growing old is one of those human experiences none of us ever escape. Unfortunately, it's also one of those things humans try to push away until we're faced with it.

So it comes as no surprise that stories about elder LGBTQ+ communities are rare when coverage of elder issues is already sparse, generally.

That's why our summer intern, Fitzwilliam Anderson, has been focused on issues facing our aging queer community. In his first story for us, he looked at what it's like to try and be part of an aging community that, for better or worse, has tried to keep to themselves and not be public about who they are.

But the reality is that going back in the closet in our older years can result in serious isolation, and studies have shown that it reduces life expectancy by more than a decade.

This story illustrates the power in being out and proud later in life, and the community you can build—even when there might seem to be no one on your side.

🌵 LOCAL NEWS

• BARRACKS: The Barracks, a gay leather bar in Cathedral City, California, is closing down and relocating to Phoenix after complaints issued to the city regarding “lewd” behavior. The Desert Sun
• BABY NEWS: Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle gave birth to their first child during the WNBA All Stars Weekend. Watermark
• MESA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: A judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by the anti-LGBTQ+ legal group America First Legal Foundation that aimed to attack Mesa school district's LGBTQ+ inclusive policies. 12 News

🇺🇸 NATIONAL NEWS

• VANDALISM: Four gunmen broke into Club Oasis in San Francisco and robbed the bar's cleanup crew and ransacked the venue looking for a safe. CBS News
• HARRIS ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS: Many may remember the unforgettable scene from "The Case Against Hate," where Vice President Kamala Harris conducted the first same-sex wedding after Prop 8 was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. She has a longer history supporting queer rights. Pink News
• EQUAL RIGHTS: New York senators are arguing to add abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to the state's equal rights amendment. Gothamist
• GAY BANKS: Research shows that two in five LGBTQ+ people felt blocked or discouraged from joining certain banks. Here's a guide in finding a bank that's right for you. (And if you've experienced this, locally, let us know by responsing back to this email). Business Insider

Last week's question: What LGBTQ+ issue was removed from the 2024 Republican platform this year?

Last week's answer: Same-sex marriage