Kate Salvino

A Southern California native, I hold dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Gerontology from the University of Southern California. My research examines aging, identity, and marginalization across the life course among lesbian, gay, and trans (LGT) older adults with histories of activism. I explore how individuals who participated in social justice movements as young adults experience ageism in later life and how these experiences intersect with earlier forms of sexual and gender minority (SGM) stigma.

Grounded in queer and critical gerontology, gerotranscendence, and the life course perspective, my work investigates how oppression and resilience are remembered and reinterpreted through aging. Using oral history and mixed-methods approaches, I examine how LGT older adults understand, resist, and re-frame ageism. My goal is to advance social work practice, education, and advocacy that affirm identity, reduce isolation, and challenge both heteronormative and ageist structures. My broader interests include critical aging studies, memory politics, and the role of activism in sustaining identity and community across generations.