Living Out Loud: 24 Hours at an LGBTQ+ Senior Community
Click the video above to watch.
A recent YouTube video by creator Matt Cullen tours Living Out, a luxury LGBTQ+ senior community in Palm Springs, and it’s a quiet gut punch—in the best way. The footage walks through bright, condo-style apartments with walk-in showers, in-unit laundry, and tranquil patios, then drifts to evenings around a fire pit where neighbors actually talk. Onsite dining at Alice B (open to the public, pay-as-you-go) reinforces the “independent living, not institution” vibe.
The heart of the piece is an interview with Joe, 82, a resident whose life threads through landmark moments in queer history. He recalls the aftermath of Stonewall—a police car on fire, queens beaten, and the humiliation of women forced to “prove” their sex to cops. He’s candid about early rifts inside the movement—how drag and trans folks were booed by some gay men—and about the night Harvey Milk was killed, when grief turned Market Street into a river of candles. It’s living memory, not a textbook.
The video doesn’t dodge the money talk: units reportedly start just under $5,000/month. Many will love the concept and still be priced out. It also names an ugly truth—too many queer elders in mainstream retirement settings go back in the closet to stay safe. Living Out demonstrates what dignity looks like when design, community, and affirmation align; the challenge is building that dignity at more price points.
Aging deserves that same visibility. Elders shouldn’t have to shrink their photos, their pronouns, or their joy. Spaces like Living Out model how to age in color, not grayscale.
Takeaway: celebrate what’s working, and push for more. If you have leads on LGBTQ+-affirming affordable senior housing—co-ops, nonprofits, city programs—send them in so we can spotlight the full spectrum. No elder should have to choose between safety and self.