[photo credit: Pasadena Village]
The Senior Coffee Chat, co-hosted with the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday in the Village Office Community Room at 236 West Mountain Street in Pasadena. Admission is free. Registration is online, and the room holds 25.
Pasadena Village, a nonprofit for adults over 55, describes it as a coffee chat for people aged 50 and older to build community. The Village has listed the session as open to all. Four more follow this year: September 19, October 17, November 21 and December 19.
The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center runs a Senior Coffee Chat of its own on third Saturdays from El Monte.
The drive came up when Pasadena Village members discussed LGBTQ+ senior programming in reporting published in June 2025.
“The thought of having to navigate going across downtown in rush hour, either in the morning or the evening, that’s difficult,” Bruce Christensen, a Pasadena Village member, said then. “And as I get older, I am less inclined to travel far for activities.”
Katie Brandon, executive director of Pasadena Village, spoke about the population in that same interview. “LGBTQ+ older adults can face particular challenges as they age,” she said. “Sometimes it’s due to the lack of family support that they might’ve not had throughout their whole lives, and often they are less likely to have children who might step in and help them when health issues or other challenges come as they age.”
The Village counted more than 200 members over age 55 at the time, more than 5% of them LGBTQIA+. Some had formed an informal group, The Village People, that met monthly over lunch.
“At the Pasadena Village, we have about a dozen LGBT members, and we do get together for lunch once a month,” Christensen said.
Brandon named a second obstacle in that interview. “I think in the Altadena and Pasadena area, the biggest hindrance our LGBTQ plus neighbors have is being invisible.”
Saturday’s session is at 236 West Mountain Street, Suite 113, Pasadena. Registration is open online. Program Associate Kieran Highsmith is taking questions at kieran@pasadenavillage.org; the Village office line is 626-765-6037.
Fourteen months ago, Christensen said what he wanted.
“I guess if I could have my magical thinking, it would be an LGBT center and senior aspect of it,” he said. “In Pasadena specifically.”
NEED TO KNOW
Senior Coffee Chat with SGV LGBTQ Center takes place Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Admission is free, registration is required, and 25 spots are available. The gathering is held in the Village Office Community Room at Pasadena Village, 236 West Mountain Street, Suite 113, Pasadena, California 91103. For more, call 626-765-6037 or visit pasadenavillage.org. Questions may also be directed to Program Associate Kieran Highsmith at kieran@pasadenavillage.org.
Registration: https://www.pasadenavillage.org/events/4977-senior-coffee-chat-with-sgv-lgbtq-center/event_participations/new
Event page: https://www.pasadenavillage.org/events/4977-senior-coffee-chat-with-sgv-lgbtq-center
Add to calendar: https://www.pasadenavillage.org/events/4977.ics
