Category: LGBTQ Seniors

Why LGBTQ Americans Are Moving to Portugal & Europe | Josh in Lisbon Update

Thinking about moving to Portugal or Europe from the United States? For LGBTQ+ Americans concerned about civil rights, politics, healthcare, safety, and their long-term future in the U.S., Portugal has become one of the destinations getting serious attention.

In this episode of the Flee Your Red States Podcast, Bob McCranie and Leslie welcome back Josh in Lisbon, an American who has now lived in Portugal for three years, for an update on what relocating to Portugal actually looks like in 2026.

Josh says something important has changed. Many of the Americans contacting him aren’t simply looking for an overseas adventure anymore. They’re considering leaving the United States because they’re afraid of what may happen next.

We talk about the realities behind that decision: Portugal’s growing international community, LGBTQ+ life in Europe, immigration and residency changes, learning Portuguese, integrating into a different culture, healthcare, employment, bureaucracy, and the financial realities of building a life outside the United States.

Josh also explains some of the differences between buying real estate in Portugal and the United States and what Americans should understand before assuming that purchasing a home overseas works the same way it does back home.

The conversation goes beyond Portugal.

With the 2026 U.S. midterm elections approaching, we discuss what the results could mean for LGBTQ+ migration. Will a political shift convince people to stay? Could further restrictions accelerate the number of Americans considering Europe? And for people who have already decided that their long-term future may be elsewhere, does the election even change the decision?

We also discuss one of the most overlooked parts of international relocation: moving somewhere is very different from becoming part of somewhere.

Language matters. Culture matters. Employment matters. Healthcare matters. And the experience of visiting Portugal is very different from actually building a life there.

Josh shares what he has learned after three years in Lisbon—and what he wishes more Americans understood before packing their bags.

Topics include: moving to Portugal from the USA, LGBTQ+ migration to Europe, living in Lisbon, Portugal immigration and residency, Portuguese citizenship, LGBTQ+ rights and safety, healthcare in Europe, working in Portugal, cultural integration, buying property in Portugal, the 2026 midterm elections, and why Americans are considering leaving the United States.

For information about relocating to Portugal or Portuguese real estate, visit Josh in Lisbon and find Josh on social media at @joshinlisbon.

The Flee Your Red States Podcast explores relocation options for LGBTQ+ people and others concerned about whether their civil rights will continue to be protected where they live. Our goal isn’t to tell people that they should leave. It’s to help people understand what their options are if they decide they need them.

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‘Maine’s first affordable senior housing community for LGBTQ+ older adults’ has its grand opening

Read more at News Center Maine.

An affordable senior housing community, described as “Maine’s first affordable senior housing community with programs and services for LGBTQ+ and older adults,” opens Wednesday (August 19). 

Equality Commons is a 54-unit community that is opening next to the Equality Community Center (ECC) at 25 Casco Street in downtown Portland, according to a release from the Equality Community Center. 

The community for residents aged 55 and older will provide “affordable homes and a safe, inclusive place for LGBTQ+ older adults and their allies to age with grace and dignity,” the release stated. 

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m., officials said. 

The housing will be situated next to the ECC at 15 Casco Street, which will offer programs and services tailored for the seniors residing there, “specifically designed to support LGBTQ+ older adults,” according to the release.

ECC said the new community will not only address the shortage of affordable housing but also provide a safe, inclusive environment where LGBTQ+ older adults and “other marginalized community members and their allies can age with dignity while remaining connected to community.”

“Equality Commons brings affordable housing, community resources and LGBTQ+-affirming services together in one location,” Ed Gardner, an ECC founding member, said. 

According to the release, “LGBTQ+ older adults can face higher risks of poverty, social isolation, chronic health conditions, discrimination and unstable or hostile living environments. Many are more likely to live alone and have limited family support or caregivers and may encounter discrimination in rental housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As people age and become more reliant on others for care and support, some also fear discrimination or retaliation if they are open about who they are.”

The apartments in Equality Commons are affordable for households earning about 50 to 60 percent of the adjusted median income in the greater Portland area, as determined by MaineHousing, the release stated.

More than 250 people have joined the waitlist for the 54 apartments, officials said. Leasing has officially begun, and they are still accepting names for the waitlist.

Equality Commons features studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, a community room, a retail café with outdoor seating, a back patio, laundry facilities, and a bike room. Nineteen of the apartments are accessible, the release stated.

Eleven accessible units have been designated for residents with disabilities, including those living with HIV/AIDS, in collaboration with the Frannie Peabody Center.

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10 Overlooked Affordable LGBTQ Friendly Cities

As seen originally on Facebook Reels of Queer Money Podcast.

Can’t retire fabulously in the US? Try these👇

You don’t need a Silicon Valley paycheck or a Fire Island inheritance to retire fabulously.

Some of the gayest, prettiest, most “wait, I can live THERE?” cities are more affordable than you think.

And no, affordable does not mean cheap.

For this list, affordable means meaningfully less expensive than Chicago, using Numbeo’s cost of living including rent, while still offering LGBTQ+ safety, healthcare access, livability, and real retirement potential.

We also factored in Equaldex, ILGA-Europe where applicable, Williams Institute Global Acceptance Index, and our Queer Money Retirement Rating.

The updated winners?

10. Montpellier, France ~30% cheaper than Chicago Equaldex: 74 | ILGA: 60% | Williams GAI: 7.73 QMRR: 7/10

9. Leipzig, Germany ~25–35% cheaper Equaldex: 80 | ILGA: 70% | Williams GAI: 7.73 QMRR: 8/10

8. Ljubljana, Slovenia ~34% cheaper Equaldex: 65 | ILGA: 54% | Williams GAI: 6.21 QMRR: 8/10

7. Valletta/Sliema, Malta ~20–25% cheaper Equaldex: 80 | ILGA: 88% | Williams GAI: 8.01 QMRR: 8/10

6. Ghent, Belgium ~20–25% cheaper Equaldex: 78 | ILGA: 85% | Williams GAI: 7.95 QMRR: 8.5/10

5. Santiago, Chile ~50–55% cheaper Equaldex: 80 | Williams GAI: 6.83 QMRR: 8.5/10

4. Montréal, Canada ~32% cheaper Equaldex: 92 | Williams GAI: 9.02 QMRR: 8.5/10

3. Mérida, Mexico ~55% cheaper Equaldex: 48 | Williams GAI: 6.50 QMRR: 9/10

2. Valencia, Spain ~37% cheaper Equaldex: 100 | ILGA: 89% | Williams GAI: 8.77 QMRR: 9/10

1. Cascais, Portugal ~20–30% cheaper Equaldex: 77 | ILGA: 67% | Williams GAI: 6.87 QMRR: 10/10

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7 million queer elders are coming. These 21 LGBTQ+ retirement communities are ready.

Read more at LGBTQ Nation.

An estimated 3.6 million LGBTQ+ people over the age of 50 live in the United States, and by 2030, that number will grow to 7 million. Despite those growing numbers, LGBTQ+ older adults continue to face inequities in health care, housing, and economic security due to discrimination and stigmatization from legislators, elder care workers, and medical professionals, as well as a lack of access to culturally competent healthcare and gender-affirming care.

Because all of these factors contribute to higher rates of depression, dementia, and chronic health conditions among queer elders, the need for queer-inclusive senior housing is rising. As such, the need for dedicated LGBTQ+-affirming retirement communities is more than a luxury — it’s a necessity.

Why inclusive senior housing matters

The aforementioned inequities are compounded by the fact that LGBTQ+ seniors are twice as likely to live alone and four times less likely to have children than their heterosexual peers, creating an even greater reliance on supportive housing solutions. This lack of traditional family support, combined with a lifetime of stigma and discrimination, can make aging especially isolating.

According to SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), LGBTQ+ seniors in elder care facilities have been denied the right to share a room with their partner, pressured to hide their identities, or mistreated by staff unfamiliar with queer lives. The fear of going “back in the closet” in a care facility remains a real and painful possibility.

Inclusive retirement communities aim to address these challenges by:

  • Ensuring cultural competency training for staff: including the use of affirming language and pronouns; asking respectful and open-ended questions about relationships and family; understanding why LGBTQ+ people might not want to disclose their identities; and acknowledging the unique economic, social, physical, and mental healthcare needs (and relationship styles) of aging queers.
  • Creating environments where residents can live openly and authentically: Providing awareness training to help facility staff recognize and minimize implicit biases in themselves, their professional colleagues, and other facility residents; teaching community members how to respectfully engage with LGBTQ+ people; and providing various opportunities for LGBTQ+ residents to seek support.
  • Building spaces for social connection and belonging: Creating community events and opportunities to express and explore queerness through socializing, learning, and artistic engagement; providing a mediator, counselor, office, or ombudsman to assess/address any LGBTQ+ community needs; understanding how isolation and discrimination can uniquely affect queer seniors.

These factors are critical for both the mental and physical health of older LGBTQ+ adults.

LGBTQ+ retirement homes across the U.S.

While the number of communities remains relatively small compared to mainstream options, there are now dedicated LGBTQ+ senior housing developments and retirement villages in multiple states. Here are 21 around the United States:

Many of these developments include independent living, assisted living, or affordable housing options —reflecting the diversity of financial and medical needs among LGBTQ+ elders.

Alternatives to dedicated LGBTQ+ retirement communities

Not every queer elder has access to a specialized retirement community, but there are other options:

  • LGBTQ+-friendly senior living facilities: More mainstream retirement communities are adopting anti-discrimination policies, staff training, and LGBTQ+ resident programming.
  • Nonprofit support: Organizations like the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging and SAGE connect seniors with inclusive housing and care resources.
  • Inclusive cities: Urban areas with strong LGBTQ+ networks — such as San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia — often provide supportive social services and affirming healthcare options, especially through their queer community centers or others elder care services.

Looking ahead

The U.S. is on the cusp of a demographic shift. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be over the age of 65, and that includes millions of openly LGBTQ+ adults. Ensuring they can age with dignity requires policy changes, cultural shifts, and investment in inclusive housing.

LGBTQ+ retirement communities represent one part of the solution. They offer safety, visibility, and belonging at a stage of life when many people need it most. But expanding access — through both dedicated communities and wider adoption of affirming practices in mainstream senior housing —remains essential.

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Moving To Spain Made Easy – Alastair Johnson from MovingToSpain.com Explains How!

Ready to call Spain your new home? Join the thousands of Expats who have successfully relocated to Spain with our expert advice, resources, insider knowledge and handpicked network of service providers.

We ran into Alastair & Alison Johnson through the Expatsi organization. Find out everything you need to know about moving to Spain in this informative talk from people who know! Check them out at https://movingtospain.com/

Thinking about moving to Spain to escape political extremism in the U.S.? As part of the Flee Red States project, we sit down with Alastair Johnson of MovingToSpain.com , who has lived in Spain for many years with his wife and adult son.

In this interview, Alastair shares his first-hand experiences about:

🏳️‍🌈 The acceptance and visibility of the LGBTQ community in Spain

🏥 Easy access to Spain’s public healthcare system

🏡 Lifestyle, culture, and why Spain is a welcoming choice for American expats

🌞 The benefits of living abroad in a progressive, inclusive country

If you’re considering moving to Spain from the USA, becoming an American expat in Europe, or simply curious about LGBTQ rights in Spain, this video gives you practical insights and inspiration.

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Texas named one of the worst states for retirement, study says

Read more at MySA.

Thinking about retiring in the Lone Star State? A new study from Bankrate says you probably shouldn’t after listing Texas as the second-to-last worst state for retirement in 2025. 

Bankrate, a personal finance website, released on Monday, July 21, its findings of the best and worst states to retire in 2025. To determine ranking, Bankrate analyzed multiple data points and assigned a weight to each category, including: affordability (28%), weather (18%), neighborhood safety (17%), health care (16%), local taxes (9%), arts, entertainment and recreation (7%), people of a similar age (3%) and miscellaneous (2%).

In the ranking, Texas was ranked at No. 49, while Louisiana placed in last place. Texas did well in the taxes category, ranking seventh. However, the Lone Star State ranked dead last in health care and 49th in people of similar age, according to the study. Safety was also notably weak, as the state ranked 38th. 

Eight of the 10 worst states for retirees are in the Sun Belt, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, California, New Mexico and Texas.

On the other side, New Hampshire was named the best state for retirees, ranking well in neighborhood safety (1st), health care (5th), taxes (6th) and people of similar age (7th), according to the study. Four of the top 10 best states for retirees are in New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). 

Bankrate used metrics from the U.S. Census, the Council for Community and Economic Research, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and more. The researchers also surveyed 2,260 U.S. adults between May 14-16, 2025.

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Massachusetts replacing Sun Belt as retirement paradise

Read more at Boston Agent Magazine.

The Bay State attracted 20% of interstate retirees in 2024, surpassing traditional snowbird destinations like Florida. That’s according to a new study from AInvest that used data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. News & World Report to analyze trends among older homebuyers.

The AI investment company identified several reasons that retirees are increasingly choosing to move to Massachusetts, including excellent healthcare, relative safety from climate-related risks, cultural and outdoor appeal and opportunity for investment.

In suburbs like Worcester or Salem, homes fetch median prices of $400,000–$500,000. These prices are significantly more affordable than Boston’s median home price of over $800,000 and offer rental yields around 5%.

“A seismic demographic shift is reshaping U.S. real estate markets, as retirees increasingly prioritize affordability, healthcare access and climate resilience over sun-soaked climates,” researchers said in the report. “This trend opens compelling opportunities for investors to capitalize on undervalued regions poised for growth.”

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55+ LGBTQ+ Seniors Look More and More to CoHousing Communities

LGBTQ+ Americans have always been here, but as sector of society has largely been ignored until recently. LGBTQ+ seniors are continuing to increase in number, with the need for services that make them comfortable in their golden years becoming a growing issue.

According to surveys by SAGE and the Williams Institute, there are an estimated 2.7 million LGBTQ+ adults aged 50 and older in the United States, including 1.1 million who are 65 and older. By 2030, this number is projected to grow to around 7 million. Baby Boomers and Gen X, no longer plagued by the near certain early death sentence of AIDS, and contributing to growing numbers of elderly LGBTQ people.

There are a few projects across the country that have started to look at retirement community living for this sector of the population. We recently shared reporting of places in Boston MA and Austin TX. An alternative to apartment style living are single story units of housing, such as in Durham NC at the Village Hearth.

Village Hearth is located just 15 minutes from downtown Durham NC, one of NC’s major cities part of the Research Triangle. 28 homes surround a village green. For those willing to purchase their own home and be part of an HOA, this type of housing is an option.

CBS News recently profiled the village. Check out their report below.

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Austin breaks ground on new affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors

*This is reported by KVUE.

 On Wednesday, an Austin-based group broke ground on a new affordable housing development geared toward LGBTQ+ senior citizens.

The development, which will be known as Iris Gardens, is located at 1013 Montopolis Drive in southeast Austin. It will consist of 150 units for people aged 55 and older and will be considered a first of its kind for Austin through a partnership with Family Eldercare and the national housing developer, Vecino Group.

It will also offer on-site services, including mental wellness and social connection programs.

“This project just felt like it was the right thing to do,” Family Eldercare CEO Dr. Aaron Alarcon said.

Alarcon said people who are at or below the 30% to 60% area median income will be accepted. The goal is to give people who live at the complex a safe and affordable space.

At the moment, there’s an uptick of elderly people experiencing homelessness, according to Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray.

“Oftentimes, what happens is seniors are on a fixed income, but the cost of living in our city and in our county is going up,” Gray said.

Gray said his office plans to lend a helping hand to reduce barriers and will have a list of people set to move in. Those barriers include moving expenses, helping get identification and clearing old debt.

When it comes to adding more affordable housing in Austin, Gray noted that the city is on track to to add 1,200 units by 2026 as part of its homeless response system. 

Other barriers people face as they try to gain access to affordable housing are criminal backgrounds and evictions. Gray said that one tool with landlords is to reduce screening criteria by looking past criminal history and past evictions.

However, when it comes to Iris Gardens, Gray said the city wanted to focus on a community that was not being properly served.

“While this is the groundbreaking for this development, this is not the first [and] this is not going to be the last. And we’re really excited to have more of these celebrations in the future,” Gray said.

Other organizations, like Rainbow Connections ATX, will also help with outreach.

“I feel that this is necessary; it’s a long time coming,” said Annie Saldivar, project manager for Rainbow Connections ATX.

The four-story building has a price tag of $51 million, with money coming from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, Travis County, CITI Bank and Redstone Equity.


Local News

Austin breaks ground on new affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors

Iris Gardens in southeast Austin is set to be completed by spring 2027.

Austin breaks ground on new affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors

Author: Kelsey Sanchez

Published: 4:56 PM CDT June 18, 2025

Updated: 9:13 PM CDT June 18, 2025

Facebook

AUSTIN, Texas — On Wednesday, an Austin-based group broke ground on a new affordable housing development geared toward LGBTQ+ senior citizens.

The development, which will be known as Iris Gardens, is located at 1013 Montopolis Drive in southeast Austin. It will consist of 150 units for people aged 55 and older and will be considered a first of its kind for Austin through a partnership with Family Eldercare and the national housing developer, Vecino Group.

It will also offer on-site services, including mental wellness and social connection programs.

“This project just felt like it was the right thing to do,” Family Eldercare CEO Dr. Aaron Alarcon said.

Alarcon said people who are at or below the 30% to 60% area median income will be accepted. The goal is to give people who live at the complex a safe and affordable space.

At the moment, there’s an uptick of elderly people experiencing homelessness, according to Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer David Gray.

“Oftentimes, what happens is seniors are on a fixed income, but the cost of living in our city and in our county is going up,” Gray said.

Gray said his office plans to lend a helping hand to reduce barriers and will have a list of people set to move in. Those barriers include moving expenses, helping get identification and clearing old debt.

When it comes to adding more affordable housing in Austin, Gray noted that the city is on track to to add 1,200 units by 2026 as part of its homeless response system. 

Other barriers people face as they try to gain access to affordable housing are criminal backgrounds and evictions. Gray said that one tool with landlords is to reduce screening criteria by looking past criminal history and past evictions.

However, when it comes to Iris Gardens, Gray said the city wanted to focus on a community that was not being properly served.

“While this is the groundbreaking for this development, this is not the first [and] this is not going to be the last. And we’re really excited to have more of these celebrations in the future,” Gray said.

Other organizations, like Rainbow Connections ATX, will also help with outreach.

“I feel that this is necessary; it’s a long time coming,” said Annie Saldivar, project manager for Rainbow Connections ATX.

The four-story building has a price tag of $51 million, with money coming from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, Travis County, CITI Bank and Redstone Equity.

The development is set to be completed by spring 2027.

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