GRIOT (Gay Reunion In Our Time) Circle is a grassroots organization which seeks to address the needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens, particularly people of color, though we are open to all races.  Members of this community have been systematically overlooked and underserved, and have had to endure discrimination and violence on at least four separate levels—on the basis of their sex, age, race, and sexual orientation.  It is our mission to counteract these damaging conditions by maintaining a safe space for these Elders, alleviating their feelings of isolation and fear, and providing programs and support systems designed to affirm their lives and encourage self-empowerment.  

Founded over ten years ago as an informal gathering of Elders, GRIOT Circle was officially recognized as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1996.  To this date, GRIOT Circle remains the only organization exclusively dedicated to serving the needs of Elder LGBT people of color.  Our membership consists of POC individuals, most of whom reside in New York City, particularly East New York, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Fort Greene, Flatbush, and Red Hook, Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx, though GRIOT also has members throughout the country.  Nearly all our members are from modest-to-low-income households, and about 50% are retired and on fixed incomes.  About 95% of GRIOT members identify as being black, African-American, or Caribbean-American, with the remaining 5% identifying as white or other.   

GRIOT Circle’s primary goal is to create an environment in which our Elders can exist without fear, and which they can use to enrich, affirm, and empower their lives.  Currently, we try to achieve this goal through the wide array of free programs that we offer to our members.

The New York Times Local News: Stonewall, Plus 40

A Circle of Elders Stories From the GRIOT Circle

Featuring: Robert E. Penn, Reverend Paul Darling, Evelyn Whitaker, Lillie Wheatley, Regina Shavers

Many of us, born in the 20s, 30s, and 40s, are accustomed to concealing major parts of ourselves to ensure our survival. Not comfortable with today’s openness, we find it difficult to explain our families, our friends, and our lifestyles to traditional senior organizations.

GRIOT Circle is a safe space where we can relax, hang out, and share our experiences in a warm and supportive environment. We can reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and affirm our lives and our community.