100 Women We Love 2014

From professors, to musicians, to activists, we present to you 2014’s 100 Women We Love.

Imani Woody, Ph.D.

Caring for our LGBT elders is an obligation that will become more crucial as people live longer. Dr. Imani Woody recognized this fact long ago. She is the founding director and CEO of Mary´s House for Older Adults, a developing LGBT-friendly residential housing community in Washington, D.C.-the culmination of her long career in LGBT and women´s health. Among her career highlights was serving as the director of client services at the Mautner Project, providing educational and direct services to lesbians and bisexual women with cancer. She was also the program manager for the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged and a training specialist for the AARP Foundation. Currently, Woody serves on many boards, including the [D.C.] Mayor´s GLBT Advisory Council, the Older Adults Advisory Council for the Metropolitan Community Churches, SAGE Metro DC, and the LGBT Technology Partnership. Her motivation is simple: ″Eventually, we will all be gay old folks. [When that day comes], I want to live in an environment that respects and honors my life,″ she says. ″I love to see the hope on the elders´ faces when I tell them about the Mary´s House for Older Adults LGBT-friendly residence. We´ve got people who want to be on a waiting list now.″ -KL


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