Currently, there is no culture of "aging well" within the LGBTIQ+ community in Vienna. Despite numerous legal achievements and the largely existing possibility to live openly as an LGBTIQ+ person and be part of the community, existing spaces and events are primarily attended by young LGBTIQ+ people, many are aimed specifically at young people. Older LGBTIQ+ people (60+), especially those in their later years, are largely invisible in the Vienna LGBTIQ+ community. There is hardly any interaction or exchange between different generations.
This project aims to address this situation and provide a lasting change. The goal is to establish a buddy project for and by older LGBTIQ+ individuals (ages 60 and up) that creates a framework and opportunities for them to participate in and shape their community according to their needs and aspirations. The focus is on a participatory approach. With the project team's support, members of the target group will be empowered, encouraged, and guided to design, carry out, and sustainably implement the buddy project according to their own ideas.
Networking activities are another important component. There are a variety of reasons why networking is relevant: First, they raise awareness of the buddy project among the target group, which consists of older or very elderly LGBTIQ+ individuals, and encourage their involvement. Second, they promote the project to other relevant actors working on issues related to LGBTIQ+, health, and aging as part of networking efforts. Finally, they engage Vienna’s most important stakeholders at this complex and multifaceted intersection. To achieve this, a series of health-related events will be organized. The content, formats, and objectives of these events will be developed in close collaboration with the target group and the project team.
A key priority is ensuring the long-term establishment of the buddy project in the community. This is achieved, in no small part, by actively involving members of the target group in designing and implementing the project from the beginning, fostering a strong sense of identification with it.
In the first year of the project (2026), the focus will be on conducting a comprehensive needs assessment of the health needs of older LGBTIQ+ individuals in Vienna. The results of this assessment will be made available here on an ongoing basis.
Are you interested in the Buddy Project? If so, please feel free to contact Brigitte Temel for more information.
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