Since humble beginnings 16 years ago, volunteers at Rainbow Connections ATX have improved the quality and vitality of life for hundreds of older adults in Austin’s LGBTQ+ community by providing connections, support, and advocacy.
Since humble beginnings 16 years ago, volunteers at Rainbow Connections ATX have improved the quality and vitality of life for hundreds of older adults in Austin’s LGBTQ+ community by providing connections, support, and advocacy.
Operating out of senior-focused Austin nonprofit Family Eldercare, Rainbow Connections ATX (RCATX) is considered a wellness program which aims to connect and uplift Austin’s LGBTQ+ community through storytelling and events both virtual and in-person. The program’s goal to connect elder members involves younger members on the other end of those connections, giving a memorable tagline of “Ages 18-110”. They invite that wide range because they aim to serve, advocate, and elevate the older population, and when RCATX gathers, they’re creating spaces that fold LGBTQ+ elders back into the mix. “There’s something valuable about having a friend 20 years younger or older than you,” co-creator World Famous *BOB* has beamed when talking about the group’s decision to include a demographic that isn’t their target. This organization is not just about applauding elders, but forming strong friendships across the board.
RCATX legally got its start in 2022 after Austin Gay & Lesbian Senior Services (AGLSS) and The Austin LGBT Elder Task Force (ETF) merged, but its roots dig all the way back to 2010 when AGLSS was launched through Family Eldercare. By 2017, ETF was co-founded by community leader Richard Bondi and (now) Rainbow Connections ATX’s very own, World Famous *BOB*. Two years later, AGLSS and ETF collaborated to provide training and resources across the greater Austin area, and by 2022 (after a strong period of advocacy and partnership together) the two organizations merged to become Rainbow Connections ATX.
Plenty of recurring virtual and in-person events are held through RCATX each year, and a few of their most popular get-togethers include the Online Support Group for LGBTQIA2S+ Caregivers, Campfire LGBTQ+ Storytime, Monthly LGBTQ+ Walk, and Zoom Tea Social Hour. Because their mission caters to elders, they also have gatherings exclusively for that age group. Every now and then, they put on special events like their Lavender Legends Prom (a free-to-attend soiree for anyone 18+ where Lavender Legend of the Year Awardee is announced) or the annual SAGE Table HoliGAY Potluck. Their proximity to bus stops, free public parking, and no admission fees remove obstacles that could prevent people from attending, and as a bonus, they’re always fully ADA-compliant. There’s even a team of ASL interpreters at the campfire chats to maximize their reach!
As a program of Family Eldercare, with a mission to elevate and celebrate elder LGBTQ+ people, RCATX has shattered the preconceived idea of aging and has given living examples and proof that aging can be whatever you imagine it to be.
