Lavender Seniors

Lavender Seniors is a program of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center. It was started in November 1994 by a group of about 20 seniors concerned with a lack of services and legal protections for the “gay and grey.” Their original meeting, held in San Leandro, was the inception for creating our welcoming services, as well as community change. The name Lavender Seniors came about because one of the original founders put the name on a sign to direct LGBTQ+ seniors into this first meeting. From that day on, the group became known as Lavender Seniors of the East Bay.

Since that first meeting, we’ve been determined to stick together as LGBTQ+ elders. United, we are much stronger and better able to support each other. Lavender Seniors, therefore, warmly welcomes those who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, those who are questioning their identities, and those who don’t identify with any labels. We also deeply appreciate the support of our heterosexual friends, relatives, and allies.