Aging Proud

As San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community enters a new chapter, support network feels the strain

By Valerie Conklin • Bay City News

August 8, 2026

Connie Jeung-Mills sat in a café in the Castro, not far from her apartment, drinking a cup of coffee and reflecting on her future. She is a 71-year-old lesbian who has lived in San Francisco for decades.

Like many older LGBTQ+ people, Jeung-Mills has never been married and has no children. A few years ago, during the pandemic, she realized her support system was largely outside of San Francisco, her closest friends hours away.

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Another Craig Newmark School of Journalism student, Valerie is looking forward to sharpening her deadline reporting skills while getting to know the Bay Area. Her interests include climate adaptation, community issues and LGBTQ+ reporting.