When a new member walks into the GRIOT Circle community center in Downtown Brooklyn, a number of seniors come up to him and strongly suggest that he try a garlic knot.

"Everyone's eating them," one member says while passing him a plate, the knots bulging with joy and carbs. "Why aren't you?"

Located on one of Brooklyn's busiest streets, GRIOT functions primarily as a community center for the city's LGBTQ seniors of color. The center serves food daily, and today's special — there are often specials — is garlic knots.

The seniors want him to try something new, to take of advantage of an opportunity. More than anything, they want him to join the community.

For LGBTQ seniors, the need for community is particularly acute. The population is twice as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be single and almost 75% less likely to have children. Internalized stigma, coupled with structural discrimination, makes it difficult for queer and trans seniors — who disproportionately live in poverty — to receive the critical social services they need.

Centers like GRIOT Circle hope to close some of these gaps. GRIOT understands that not everyone gets their support from their biological family or romantic partner(s). Queer families or chosen families — the often platonic network of people LGBTQ folks call family — provide that sense of connection. Yet for much of this population, queer families are a luxury of the young.



