New York City may be a cradle of gay rights, but for many in the gay community it is still not an easy place to grow old.

Mary Ellen Green can attest to that. Her only refuge is a senior center in Manhattan that serves the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. She can sit down to a hot meal or settle in with a book without worrying about being harassed by her neighbors.

But shen the center closes at night and on weekends, Ms. Green, 61, a freelance writer who is homelss, is on her own again.  Read more…