Public Act 102-0885 created the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate, analyze, and study the health, housing, financial, psychosocial, home-and-community-based services, assisted living, and long-term care needs of LGBTQ older adults and their caregivers.

LGBTQ Advocate
Billy Rogers
billylgbtqadvocate@gmail.com

Billy (he/him) is retired and lives in Du Quoin, Illinois, with his spouse of 33 years. As an activist/advocate, Billy is now President of Golden Rainbows of Illinois South Inc. (GRIS), serving 50+ LGBTQ elders and those aging with HIV in Southern Illinois. Billy is also active with the group OUTAging, an organization under the umbrella of Pride Think Tank, and has completed the Pride Action Tank Advocacy for Change training and Storytelling for Change. As a caregiver for his spouse and chosen family and an aging member of the LGBTQ community, Billy lives this experience in real time. Billy is passionate about his advocacy role and comes from a place of love and compassion for not only the aging LGBTQ community but for all people aging in Illinois. In January of 2023, Billy was appointed to the 3-year Illinois LGBTQ Aging Commission and appointed the Illinois LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate for the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA).

Billy’s responsibilities and duties as the LGBTQ Older Adult Advocate include but are not limited to the following:

• Advocate for LGBTQ older adults and older adults living with HIV/long-term survivors.
• Advise and oversee IDoA’s decision-making and policymaking to ensure decisions are made with these communities in mind.
• Assist providers and public members with identifying how to create the best LGBTQ-affirming environments in their organizations and communities.
• Administer and oversee curriculum and training established by the legislative language of the Commission (Section 8.12).
• Support and provide information to public members regarding their civil rights and access to federal, state, and local benefits for the aging population.
• Support the work and recommendations of the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging, the Illinois Council on Aging, and the Illinois State Plan on Aging.

Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging Report - March 2023