Support group for senior gay men – a space for acceptance, support and active aging

Support group for senior gay men – a space for acceptance, support and active aging

active aging

In 2025, the Gay Senior Men’s Support Group continued its work as a unique and necessary space for older men in the LGBTQ+ community. It is a place where you can be yourself, talk openly, share experiences, receive support and feel your own worth, regardless of age, life circumstances or past experiences.

From February to December 2025, 13 group meetings were held, including a thematic seminar and a training. The meetings aimed to strengthen the psycho-emotional well-being of participants, increase the level of information on health, human rights and civic participation, as well as reduce loneliness and social isolation, which are particularly common for older LGBTQ+ people.

Who participates in the group

During the year, 23 unique beneficiaries aged 50 and over attended the meetings. The oldest participant turned 93 in 2025. The attendance at each meeting was 15-20 people.

The group brings together people with different life experiences and cultural backgrounds: participants include people from localities outside Chisinau, people with disabilities, and representatives of different ethnicities. This diversity emphasizes the importance of an inclusive approach and respect for each person’s individual history.

What they discussed and learned

The topics of the meetings were set based on the real needs of the participants and the current challenges faced by older gay men.

In 2025, the following topics were addressed:

• healthy eating and disease prevention in old age;
• chronic and age-related diseases, including diabetes, prostate diseases, acute intestinal infections;
• psycho-emotional health, ways to support yourself through daily practices and hobbies;
• loss, memory and grief;
• alternative methods of health support, with the participation of a specialist;
• the concept of “safe aging”, the dignity and rights of older people;
• civic activity and the impact of elections on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community;
• exchange of life experience and strengthening the bond between generations;
• informal communication and festive meetings “between your own people”.

A special place was occupied by the seminar dedicated to benign prostatic hyperplasia, in which not only medical but also psychological aspects, as well as aspects of the sexual health of older homosexual men, were discussed.

What these meetings offer

For participants, the support group is much more than just meetings about common interests. It is a space where:

• you can talk openly about personal experiences, without fear of being judged;
• you can receive support and understanding from people with similar life experiences;
• you can learn important and practical information about health, rights and help options;
• you can feel needed, heard and included in the life of the community.

Many participants say that, thanks to the group, they feel less alone, more confident and more active.

Evghenii, 93 years old: “Maybe I wouldn’t have lived to my age if it weren’t for the group where I understand and accept myself, where I can be myself.”

Mihail, 85 years old: “When I started coming to the group, my life changed. I understood that my experience and opinion are important to others.”

Victor, 73 years old: “If the group didn’t exist, it should be created. Here I am among my own people and I can be myself.”

Conclusions and plans for the future

The experience of 2025 clearly showed that the support group for gay men of the third age performs a social, psychological and rights-defending function. Regular meetings contribute to strengthening social ties, increasing the quality of life of participants, and forming an active and solidary community of elderly LGBTQ+ people.

Regular meetings are planned to continue in 2026, with a special focus on health, psycho-emotional support, human rights and the involvement of participants in the organization of the meetings. The development of such initiatives is an important step for LGBTQ+ older people to remain visible, heard and included in public life.

Alexei Marcicov,

coordinator of the support group for gay men of the third age.