When you get older, you get wiser — especially if you grew up in struggle.

Aging members of the LGBT community are often overlooked and underappreciated within our modern movement, in favor of younger generations. It's rare we actually talk to the people who lived through our most profound periods — the Stonewall Riots, the HIV/AIDS crisis and countless other moments that led to major victories in LGBT rights.

See also: LGBT families and allies share their hopes for the future

In honor of LGBT Pride Month, we visited the Midtown Manhattan location of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) to chat with four LGBT elders about their experiences within the community.

From touching coming out stories to advice for LGBT youth today, these four folks had a lot to share — and we were more than happy to listen.

Special thanks to SAGE, Guy Aiossa, Josephine Lipari, George Stewart and Sofia Torres for help with the project.