Michael Adams (born 1961) is an attorney and LGBT+ civil rights advocate in the United States. He was the CEO of Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders in New York City from 2006 through 2025.
Early life and education
Michael Adams grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts. He earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in government from Harvard University in 1984 and his involvement in human rights issues began at this time.“Paradigm Shifter.” Harvard Magazine. May–June 2018. https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2018/05/paradigm-shifter Retrieved 2021-12-30. He was active in campus campaigns to promote human rights in Latin America and to oppose the then-current United States policies in Central America.
His senior honors thesis adviser was Assistant Professor Terry Karl, who in 1983 filed a sexual harassment complaint against her colleague in the government department, Jorge Dominquez, in what became a groundbreaking case. In 2021, Harvard formally apologized to Karl.“‘Harvard Failed Her:’ University Apologizes to Scholar Who Endured Harassment.” The Chronicle of Higher Education. (February 4, 2021). https://www.chronicle.com. Retrieved 2021-04-13. Adams spoke out publicly in support of Karl, for which the government department threatened him with legal action.“Harvard Crimson Turns with #MeToo Tide.” The Advocate. (March 28, 2018). https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/3/28/harvard-crimson-turns-metoo-tide. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School in 1990 and an MA in Latin American studies from Stanford University.“Lambda Adds Seasoned Civil Rights Litigator to Its Staff.” Lambdalegal.org. https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/ny_20010320_lambda-adds-seasoned-civil-rights-litigator Retrieved 2022-01-03.
In 2004, Adams married Frederick A. Davie, his partner since 1998. A Presbyterian minister, Davie is the executive vice president of Union Theological Seminary. He served on President Barack Obama's transition team and was appointed by Obama to the White House Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is currently the Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which provides civilian oversight to the New York City Police Department, and is a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, appointed by Senator Charles Schumer.“Frederick A. Davie, Executive Vice President.” https://www.utsnyc.edu. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
Career He worked in litigation at Clarence & Snell in San Francisco, before moving to the American Civil Liberties Union, first as a staff attorney and then as the litigation director of its lesbian & gay rights and AIDS projects. In 2001, he became the deputy legal director of Lambda Legal. Much of his litigation career involved issues affecting LGBTQ+ people and families, such as civil rights and recognition of victims of Nazi persecution.“Mississippi Punishes Four Year Old Because He Has Lesbian Moms.” www.lambdalegal.org. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
Adams litigated several cases which ended the enforcement of anti-sodomy laws criminalizing same-sex sexual activity in several jurisdictions.“In Historic Settlement with ACLU, Maryland Clears Last of Its Sodomy Laws from the Books.” https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/historic-settlement-aclu-maryland-clears-last-its-sodomy-laws-books . Retrieved 2021-12-30. He also argued cases in several states that established "family recognition" for same-sex couples, such as custody and adoption. These cases were argued in Arkansas,“ACLU Challenges Arkansas Policy Banning Gay and Lesbian Foster Parents.” www.aclu.org. Retrieved 2022-01-04. Florida,“ACLU Sues Florida over ban on gay and lesbian adoption.” www.aclu.org. Retrieved 2022-01-04. Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia.
In 2002, he became Lambda Legal's Director of Education and Public Affairs.“Michael Adams, Chief Executive Officer.” https://www.sageusa.org. Retrieved 2021-04-18. In this role, he was responsible for national public relations and community education programs on LGBT+ rights.“Michael Adams, Chief Executive Officer.” www.sageusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
Adams served as an adjunct professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law and as a grantmaking consultant to the Ford Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.“Lambda Adds Seasoned Civil Rights Litigator to Its Staff.” www.lambdalegal.org. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
SAGE In 2006,"Panel 3: The Role of Funders Amidst a Pandemic." SAGE. SAGE, 2020. https://www.sageusa.org/national-lgbt-elder-housing-virtual-institute-2020/panel-3-role-donors-admist-pandemic/. Retrieved 2022-02-18. Adams became the chief executive officer of the non-profit SAGE (Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders). Established in 1978, SAGE provides advocacy, supportive services, and consumer resources to older LGBT+ adults. The organization's emphasis is on policy advocacy and promoting legislation that promotes the ability of LGBT+ adults to age with dignity and respect.“Fighting for LGBT Elders Since 1978,” www.sageusa.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30. In 2014 SAGE undertook a multi-year project to embed racial equity in its external work and within the organization as part of a long-term commitment to build racial equity and contribute to the dismantling of white supremacy.Lindsay, Drew. “How a White Nonprofit CEO Rewired His Brain as His Organization Overhauled Itself in a Racial-Equity Effort.” Philanthropy.com. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 5, 2021. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/how-a-white-nonprofit-ceo-rewired-his-brain-as-his-organization-overhauled-itself-in-a-racial-equity-effort.
SAGE also provides cultural competency training to health care and nursing care providers with a SAGECare credential“SAGECare Teaches Elder Care Providers the Importance of Fostering a Welcoming Community,” www.aarp.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30. and in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, it sponsors a Long-Term Care Equality Index to measure the level of equitable and inclusive care for LGBT+ people in long-term care residences.“Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative, “Long Term Care Equality Index Promises to Provide Tools to Address Concerns of LGBTQ Residents,” (June 24, 2020), www.mahealthyagingcollaborative.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30. It has a number of initiatives addressing specific issues of LGBT+ elders, including the National Resource Center on LGBT+ Aging,“National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.” SAGE. SAGE. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/national-resource-center-on-lgbt-aging/. an HIV/AIDS long-term survivors network,“HIV & Aging Policy Action Coalition (HAPAC).” SAGE. SAGE. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/hapac/. an emergency hot-line and telephone support system,“Sage National LGBT Elder Hotline.” SAGE. SAGE. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/sage-national-lgbt-elder-hotline/. and a national housing initiative.“National LGBT Housing Initiative.” SAGE. SAGE. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.sageusa.org/what-we-do/national-lgbt-housing-initiative-2/.
Advocacy A significant focus of Adams's work is on intersectionality and racial equity. SAGE is a founder of the Diverse Elders Coalition, which comprises six national advocacy organizations representing and advocating for the combined interests and concerns of racially and ethnically diverse elders, older American Indians and Alaska Natives, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT) elders. Adams has stated that this focus is important not only because there are shared issues among the groups and combining forces is strategically effective, but also because, as the demographic of older Americans changes, people on the intersections of diversity are a growing part of SAGE's constituency.Adams, Michael, "An Intersectional Approach to Services and Care for LGBT Elders,"https://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/pdfs/S21_Gene_40_2_Adams_94-100.pdf Generations, Journal of the American Society on Aging, Vol. 40:2, (Summer 2016), pp. 94-100.
Adams also has been active in international issues. In 2017, he was part of a delegation testifying before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and has become an active member of a coalition working with LGBT+ elders in Latin America. SAGE has worked with several organizations in Latin America and Asia to secure funding for cross-cultural advocacy, services, and research. This focus is informed in part from Adams's previous experience and academic training in Latin American studies.Adams, Michael, “LGBT Older Adults in Latin America: An Emerging Movement,” ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America, (December 7, 2019), www.revista.drclas.harvard.edu/lgbt-older-adults-in-latin-america/. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
Honors and awards Adams is the board chair of the American Society on Aging.“ASA Board of Directors,” www.asaging.org. Retrieved 2021-12-30. He is the 2019 recipient of the National Council on Aging’s Change Agent Award."Trailblazers in Aging Awards – National Council on Aging," https://www.ncoa.org/page/trailblazers-in-aging-awards. Retrieved 2021-04-21. In 2016, he was named an “Influencer in Aging” by PBS's Next Avenue.“2016 Influencers in Aging.” Next Avenue. Next Avenue, November 10, 2020. https://www.nextavenue.org/2016influencers/. Adams has twice been named one of the “100 most influential LGBT leaders” by OUT Magazine'''.“American Society on Aging Names Karyne Jones, Michael Adams to Board Positions,” www.seniorhousingbusiness.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06. He has served as the vice president of the board of directors of LiveOn New York."Form 990 6-30-19," https://allison-nickerson.squarespace.com/financial-information. Retrieved 2021-04-21. He has served on advisory councils for AARP“ASA Board of Directors,” www.asaging.org. Retrieved 2022-01-06. and the New York City Department for the Aging.“Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz to Convene First State Senate Aging Advisory Council,” www.nysenate.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
Publications Michael Adams's publications include (partial list):
Adams, Michael. “Rural LGBTQ+ elders deserve our support.” McKnights Senior Living (12 Dec. 2022). Adams, Michael. “Defending democracy matters deeply for diverse older Americans.” Washington Blade (8 Nov. 2022). Adams, Michael. “LGBTQ History Month – Using Our Past to Define Our Future.” Next Avenue (26 Oct. 2022). Adams, Michael and Jennifer Wong. “Let’s Revolutionize Spaces Serving Older Adults.” Next Avenue (29 Sep. 2022) Adams, Michael and Yanira Cruz. “Inflation Reduction Act: An Important Step Supporting LGBTQ+ Elders.” The Advocate (6 Sep. 2022). Adams, Michael. “Addressing Access and Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Older Adults in Long-Term Care Communities and Older Adult Housing.” JAMDA (1 Sep. 2022). Adams, Michael. “How Senior Living Facilities Can Be More Inclusive.” Seniors Housing Business (2 May 2022). Albino, José and Michael Adams. “Why a White-Led LGBTQ+ Org and a POC-Led Queer Group Are Teaming Up.” The Advocate (1 Apr. 2022). Adams, Michael. “Time is ticking on Equality Act for LGBTQ elders.” Washington Blade (2 Mar. 2022). Adams, Michael. “Committing to the Fight Against Structural Ageism.” Generations (1 Dec. 2021). Adams, Michael. “Fighting for equality for decades, trans elders still face endless hardships.” Washington Blade (19 Nov. 2021). Bonamici, Suzanne and Michael Adams. “LGBTQ+ elders endured decades of discrimination. Now, the Stonewall generation needs help.” USA Today (14 Sep. 2021). Adams, Michael and Yanira Cruz. “BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Seniors Cannot Wait Any Longer for COVID Vaccine.” The Advocate (24 Jan. 2021). Adams, Michael and Peter Kaldes. “Anti-Racism and Pro-Aging: A Stonewall Legacy.” The Hill, (July 23, 2020). Adams, Michael. “Individual Heroism Propels LGBTQ Elders in COVID-19.” Next Avenue (14 Apr. 2020).