On this day in queer history: 2 November 1977

SAGE (Senior Action in a Gay Environment) was founded in New York City—the first organization in the United States dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian and gay older adults.

At a time when LGBTQ elders were largely invisible in both queer and aging advocacy, SAGE created community, fought isolation, and challenged the notion that queer life ended at forty. Its founders believed that aging with dignity meant aging with authenticity—and that LGBTQ seniors deserved respect, connection, and care.

Are you going to host or attend a #SAGEtable meal? Who are your multi-generational Queer heroes? Who would be at your dream SAGE table event?

On May 18, @sageusa invites you to host or attend SAGE Table, a chance for LGBTQs of all ages to sit down, strengthen community, and forge new traditions. Follow @sageusa or the link in our bio and please host or attend a SAGE Table in your community. . In support of SAGE Table, @lgbt_history worked with the incredible @levijfoster and @mh0ffman to create “The Families We Make,” a series bringing together queer activist heroes of all ages. This post is part of that series; swipe right to see Levi’s portrait. . Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer met in 1963, began dating in 1965, and got engaged in 1967. They spent decades fighting for LGBTQ liberation. . In 2007, after thirty years of living with progressive MS, Thea was given a year to live. As they couldn’t legally marry in New York, the couple wed in Toronto. . After Thea’s death in 2009, Edie had to pay substantial federal taxes on her wife’s estate, whereas a heterosexual widow would not have paid any taxes; the different treatment arose from Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which applied “spouse” only to opposite-sex couples. Edie sued and fought to the Supreme Court, which declared Section 3 unconstitutional, paving the way for 2015’s marriage equality ruling. . @sageusa has a special place in Edie’s heart. She is a former board member and a winner of @sageusa’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and she took great comfort in the SAGE community after Thea’s death. . As @levijfoster’s portrait shows, it didn’t take long for Edie and @raymondbraun to hit it off. Raymond, a media personality, activist, and entrepreneur who has been named, among other things, one of the world’s most influential LGBTQs by OUT magazine, has an unrelenting passion for fairness and equality, especially when it comes to LGBTQ youth; he is engaged, engaging, hyper-intelligent, and compassionate. . Because of @sageusa, these two incredible activists shared space, made plans, and gave each other strength. We all can make these connections on May 18 by participating in SAGE Table. . Pictures: (1) Edie & Thea, Halloween, 1981. c/o Edie Windsor; (2) Edie & Raymond, New York City, April 20, 2017. Photo by @levijfoster. #SAGETable