As your constituent, I am writing to ask you to commit to supporting LGBT civil rights legislation that will protect millions of LGBT people across this country from being denied their basic civil rights. In particular, older LGBT people have been living without federal civil rights protections for their entire lives, leaving them susceptible to discrimination in housing, long-term care, and healthcare. This community cannot wait any longer for comprehensive, national-level protections from discrimination. Today, half of LGBT people in the U.S. live in the 29 states that lack statewide non-discrimination protections. Alaska is one of them, despite the fact that a majority of Alaskans support these laws, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Passing federal comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation would extend these critical protections to all LGBT people nationwide, drastically impacting the lives of older LGBT Alaskans. These protections have broad and deep support across party lines, demographics, and geography with 83% of Americans in favor of LGBT civil rights legislation, including 68% of Republicans and a majority in every state in the country. Though the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bostock vs. Clayton County protects LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace, we need federal legislation to ensure all that all LGBT Americans are protected from discrimination in all aspects of their lives. As your constituent, I ask that you support civil rights protections to make sure that older LGBT Alaskans are fully protected under federal law, as they are particularly susceptible to discrimination in long term care facilities, housing, and healthcare. Valuable years have been lost in fighting against cases of discrimination – discrimination these elders have had to face their entire lives. These brave elders refused to be invisible. And, they’re not alone. According to research by SAGE, an advocacy group for older LGBT people, many more elders feel like they must go back in the closet due to the fear of getting inadequate service from healthcare and long-term care providers. If you are interested in learning more about the discrimination that LGBT older people face, you can find more information at sageusa.org. Please show your support – LGBT pioneers cannot wait another second for these vital protections.

I'm writing to you today to ask for your support for nondiscrimination protections that would protect LGBT people across the country from being denied their civil rights. Today, half of LGBT people in the U.S. live in the 29 states that lack statewide non-discrimination protections. Alaska is one of them, despite the fact that a majority of Alaskans support these laws, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Passing federal comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation would extend these critical protections to all LGBT people nationwide, drastically impacting the lives of older LGBT Alaskans. These protections have broad and deep support across party lines, demographics, and geography with 83% of Americans in favor of LGBT civil rights legislation, including 68% of Republicans and a majority in every state in the country. Valuable years have been lost in fighting against cases of discrimination – discrimination these elders have had to face their entire lives. These brave elders refused to be invisible. And, they’re not alone. According to research by SAGE, an advocacy group for older LGBT people, many more elders feel like they must go back in the closet due to the fear of getting inadequate service from healthcare and long-term care providers. If you are interested in learning more about the discrimination that LGBT older people face, you can find more information at sageusa.org. I thank you for your time and urge you again to please show your support – LGBT elders cannot wait another second for these vital protections.

I'm sure you know that nearly 60% of Alaskans support comprehensive non-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. I'm writing today as one of your constituents and asking you to support the majority of Alaskans on this issue. In particular, older LGBT people have been living without federal civil rights protections for their entire lives, leaving them susceptible to discrimination in housing, long-term care, and healthcare. This community cannot wait any longer for comprehensive, national-level protections from discrimination. Again, as your constituent, I am writing to ask you to commit to supporting LGBT civil rights legislation that will protect millions of LGBT people across this country from being denied their basic civil rights. Today, half of LGBT people in the U.S. live in the 29 states that lack statewide non-discrimination protections. Alaska is one of them. Passing federal comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation would extend these critical protections to all LGBT people nationwide, drastically impacting the lives of older LGBT Alaskans. These protections have broad and deep support across party lines, demographics, and geography with 83% of Americans in favor of LGBT civil rights legislation, including 68% of Republicans and a majority in every state in the country. According to research by SAGE, an advocacy group for older LGBT people, many more elders feel like they must go back in the closet due to the fear of getting inadequate service from healthcare and long-term care providers. If you are interested in learning more about the discrimination that LGBT older people face, you can find more information at sageusa.org. Thank you for your time and service.