A Place To Live - The GLEH Triangle Square Story

SYNOPSIS

What does it mean to be a gay senior citizen trying to survive on limited resources in America? A Place to Live explores this issue by chronicling the development and construction of Triangle Square Hollywood, the country's first affordable housing facility for LGBT seniors.

Winner of the Audience Award at Outfest 2008: Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, A Place to Live follows the journey of seven individuals as they attempt to secure a home in Triangle Square. Since demand far exceeded the number of available units, a lottery system was established to select who would live in the complex - not everyone would be chosen. A Place to Live is both a moving portrait of gay and lesbian seniors on the fringe of their community and the triumphant opening of this historic building.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

The scarcity of affordable housing is a deepening national crisis and LGBT seniors in particular face unique challenges, as they are often discriminated against, forced back into the closet in retirement homes, or separated from their significant others in assisted living facilities.

In the summer of 2006, Producer Cynthia Childs saw the construction site for Triangle Square in Hollywood, CA. Struck by the cultural and historical significance of the building and its potential occupants, we decided to find seven seniors who would allow us to film them through the lottery process. The resulting film, A Place to Live: The Story of Triangle Square, tells the story of an isolated group of people who all share a common desire to create a community where they feel accepted. After years of fighting for equal rights, this building represents a dream come true for many of them.

There is a misperception that all gays are young, fabulous and wealthy - but we're not. We are all ethnicities, all socio-economic levels and all ages. I hope our film will bring attention to this issue of neglect and marginalization of our elders. Unless we work together as a community today, we will be confronted by the very same frustrations and difficulties that many older LGBT adults face now.

- Carolyn Coal

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• GLEH
• Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing
• Triangle Square