Who knew? LGBT Elders finally get their due.

May 16th is recognized as National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day. This day is dedicated to honoring and recognizing the contributions and sacrifices made by LGBT elders, who have played an important role in advancing the rights of the LGBT community throughout history.

This day was first celebrated in 2015, when SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) launched the initiative to honor LGBT elders. SAGE is an organization that provides support and advocacy services for LGBT elders in the United States.

There are an estimated 3 million+ LGBT adults over the age of 55 throughout the U.S. Many are marginalized. All deserve our gratitude.

The purpose of National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day is to raise awareness about the issues faced by LGBT elders and to recognize their resilience, bravery, and contributions to society. It is also a day to reflect on the progress that has been made in advancing LGBT rights and to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done.

“It’s important to celebrate elders every day,” said Sam McClure, director of the Center for LGBTQ Health Equity, which continued the national day of recognition in Baltimore in 2016. “Respect for those with more experience is an essential element of civility. In intergenerational dialogues, we discover we have differing opinions based on our experiences and perspectives. I love seeing Elders and youth learning from each other.”

National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of LGBT elders, honor their resilience and bravery, and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to ensure equality and justice for all members of the LGBT community and especially those who helped fight tooth and nail for it.