About Gay and Lesbian Retirement Communities
Whether gay or straight, retirement is a pressing concern for many. In most suburbs, it's difficult to make it through town without seeing a few billboards touting the amenities of the town's retirement communities. Yet a billboard for an openly gay retirement community is virtually nonexistent. There are several gay and lesbian retirement communities currently operating in the United States.
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Basics
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Retirement for nonmarried couples can be complicated, especially with limited rights for domestic partners in many states. In the last decade the Gay and Lesbian Association of Retiring Persons (GLARP) has been working to promote and operate several openly gay retirement communities. There are several such communities currently operating, and nearly a dozen more in the planning stages.
Types
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Examples of developments include a women-only facility that features prefabricated homes and allows for RVs. The Resort, a short distance from Fort Myers, Florida, offers 278 units with lots beginning at around $90,000.
Outside of Florida, gay and lesbian retirees can migrate to the Rainbow Vision in sunny Santa Fe, New Mexico. The retirement community first opened its doors with 20 units in 2005, selling condos for $270,000. The community continues to expand as retirees are drawn to the dry and warm climate.
Some communities, such as Birds of a Feather in Pecos, New Mexico, allow younger buyers to join the community and move in as young as 42. The 160-acre, environmentally friendly retirement community is marketed toward those looking to plan for their future and make a gradual transition into retirement. These properties offer ranch-style houses that begin at slightly under $350,000.
There are also a few complexes that function in traditional apartment buildings. -
Features
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Many of these gay and lesbian-oriented retirement communities offer an array of social programs, including holistic health centers, continuing education classes, exercise facilities, pools and golf courses. As with other retirement communities, most set a minimum age requirement of 55. Some offer assisted-living options for older seniors, including meal service and housekeeping options that may be purchased at the outset or added to a buyer's plan should such services become necessary.
Benefits
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The goal of gay and lesbian retirement communities is to ensure social acceptance for those whose lifestyles have been deemed "alternative" for most of their lives. Gay and lesbian retirement communities allow individuals to be themselves in public--hold hands, hug, act affectionately. They also allow gays and lesbians to emerge from their minority status and live in a community in which they are the majority. Another benefit is the acceptance of the staff, including providers of medical care.
Time Frame
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With gay and lesbian baby boomers numbering over three million, the likelihood that retirement communities for openly gay and lesbian people will surely increase in the coming years. Look for retirement communities catering to gays and lesbians to begin popping up in Northern and Southern California, particularly near Palm Springs--a longtime haven for gay men. Florida and New Mexico will continue to expand their retirement offerings, and Arizona is expected to follow suit in retirement towns like Flagstaff and Sonoma.
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