Club offers social spot for LGBT seniors

Designed to give senior members of the gay community a place to socialize, Club Q Laguna has been bringing people together for the past two years.

The group, which boasts about 100 members, was founded by Larry Ricci, who lived in Laguna for 35 years until moving to San Juan Capistrano about four years ago. The club meets twice a month in the Susi Q Community and Senior Center.

Inside one of the center’s recreational rooms on a recent Friday, about 25 Club Q members greeted each other with smiles, hugs and offerings of food. They were preparing to begin their second event of the month, a screening of the 1991 movie “Switch.”

Ricci, 64, said he had been thinking for while about finding a way to give members of the gay community a place to gather and interact.

“The concept was in my mind for a good two to three years,” Ricci said. “I knew of seniors, LGBT people, in the area that don’t have anywhere to go.”

After presenting a proposal to community center board members, Ricci had his club.

Ricci said he is pleased with the growing popularity of the club.

“”It’s wonderful,” he said. “It’s exciting that people are responding and attending our gatherings.”

Ricci said he purposely calls the events gatherings to avoid giving people the idea that they’ll be sitting in a meeting for two hours.

“They’re coming to socialize,” Ricci said.

Members often talk about issues affecting seniors in the area, watch movies, help with fundraisers and just spend time with friends.

Ricci said the club is also a place where people aren’t going to be judged, where they can feel safe, have fun and relax.

“Being ‘out’ in the world is difficult,” said Laguna Beach resident Sally Barron, 73. “It’s uncomfortable. When you walk down the street holding hands or showing any kind of affection, you don’t know what kind of response you’re going to get.”

Barron has been a member since the club began and said it’s been a great experience.

“It’s such a good time and we enjoy ourselves,” Barron said.

Costa Mesa resident Ric Uggen, 64, said he doesn’t take to heart negative comments made about him or his lifestyle.

“I grew up in Clovis, and I was bullied for being gay, and I didn’t even know what that meant,” Uggen said. “Kids knew I was different, but I didn’t. But at about 14 or 15, I said, ‘This is nonsense. I’m going to be who I am.’”

Uggen said there are limited places to meet others from the gay community.

“I think it’s a great way to socialize,” Uggen said. “All the gay bars in Orange County are pretty much gone, and it’s hard to meet people to socialize with — everyone is on their computer.”

Mike Sciortino of Laguna Woods said, “There are a lot of people who are afraid to go out, but you can come to places like this and be around people similar to you that have the same lifestyles. There’s immediately a connection.”

Sciortino, 73, said there’s a club for the LGBT — lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender — community closer to his home, and sometimes he attends, but he enjoys certain aspects of Club Q Laguna.

“We found this place to be very welcoming, and everyone is so receptive to new members,” Sciortino said.

That openness is key to the club, Ricci said. He said everyone — no matter their sexual orientation — is welcome.

“We have a lot to talk about and we have a lot of experience,” Ricci said. “We’ve dealt with a lot of hardships that have come to the surface in the last few years.”

The club meets from 3 to 5 p.m. on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Susi Q Community Center, 380 Third St., Laguna Beach. For more information, visit lagunabeachseniors.com.