Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

An off-hand comment on Facebook brought to light a true need in our community – LGBTQ elders who are alone during the holidays.

Kathi Boyle, coordinator of older adult services for the Persad Center, is part of a national group called SAGE, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders has asked me to share that there are three older men in our region who could use your support. All three would benefit from a holiday card sent to cheer them up. Kathi also suggested gift cards if possible. There are our neighbors who want nothing but to be acknowledged and remembered.

A chance to help 3 elders in our community who helped to pave the way for all of us. To learn more about their experiences, listen to this segment on WESA 90.5’s Essential Pittsburgh featuring Kathi and long-time LGBTQ activist Buzz Pusateri.

I think we can pull that off, how about you? Three people.

So here’s the deal.

First, you send a holiday card or a note in care of Persad Center. Include a personal message, your good wishes, whatever you want to say. I don’t know the religious identity of the specific men, but I am sure they will appreciate your good wishes from wherever them come.

Second, if you can include a gift card of any amount, please tuck a note inside so the folks at Persad Center know it is there, perhaps an envelope inside of an envelope. From SAGE:

George would love Amazon cards and will be with his Mom (also disabled) for Christmas dinner.

Terry is in Westmoreland and would like VISA cards so he can use them wherever or by computer as he is quite isolated due to physical disabilities.

My other guy in Mt Pleasant does not need gifts but could use calls. I will see him on Wednesday and ask him if he would like me to give his phone number and/or email address to folks. He is terribly isolated due to not driving and his fear of everyone disliking homosexuals.

Third, please let me know if you do send a card and/or gift card.

If you can help by sending a card, the more the merrier. Cards can be mailed to:

To access any of these services or for more information, please contact our senior specialist Kathi Boyle at 888-873-7723 ext. 310 orkboyle@persadcenter.org