Editor: Keith Davis Writers: Shana Gulko '00, Dave Maley Publisher: Office of Public Information Volume 22, No.15   April 10, 2000

Expert on Gay and Lesbian Aging to Speak The Gerontology Institute Distinguished Speaker Series will present its last offering of the current academic year on Wednesday, April 12, with a talk by Jean K. Quam, professor and director of the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Her lecture, "Old and Gay: What Will the Future Bring?," will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Emerson Suites, Phillips Hall. The talk is free and open to the public. A former social worker who has been on the faculty of the University of Minnesota since 1980, Quam has presented papers on gay and lesbian aging issues and has published numerous articles in journals such as the Gerontologist and SIECUS Reports. She is also the editor of Social Services for Senior Gay Men and Lesbians. "What we know about how people age has pretty systematically left out gay and lesbian adults," Quam says. "And what we know about gay and lesbian adults is primarily about younger adults and about very narrow groups of people." As newer studies emerge, clear differences are being observed among gay people who are at various stages of the aging process. "There are also significant gender differences," she says. "As we learn more, we can help to plan better for future generations of gay and lesbian adults who are likely to be more assertive about what they want in terms of social services, health care, and housing. It is important to look at what we know and what we don’t know and try to figure out respectful ways to gather more information." For information contact the Gerontology Institute at 274-1965.

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