Weho Marches for Age at Inaugural Event

Participants from West Hollywood and beyond marched along Robertson and Santa Monica boulevards Saturday morning, carrying signs touting messages, “Getting better every year” and “Boomer hottie,” for the first annual Age March LA.

The inaugural event, co-sponsored by the city of West Hollywood as part of its Annual Senior Month, is part of a larger movement championed by San Francisco author and activist Barbara Rose Brooker. At 74, Brooker has authored six books, including The Viagra Diaries, a story about aging, age discrimination, love and sex after 60.

She founded Age March to promote a simple message: “You can do anything you want at any age.” Her first event in San Francisco drew a crowd of over 300. Brooker plans to hold similar marches in New York, Washington D.C. and London, as the movement grows.

“You are part of a movement in this generation and the next, where age doesn’t matter,” Brooker said, addressing the West Hollywood crowd before the march. “Anything is possible at every single age. I want fame, fortune, romance, love, gardening, all of it. We can do anything we want. Just by being here today, you are making a statement about celebrating who you are.”

The Age March was brought to West Hollywood by local organizer Wendy Goldman, who contacted Brooker about getting involved after hearing that she wanted to bring the successful San Francisco event to Los Angeles.

Goldman, who has dedicated her professional life to solving intergenerational employment disputes, said she worked with City Hall over the past several months to bring Age March to fruition.

City Councilman Jeffrey Prang opened the event with a brief speech. Live entertainment was provided by pop/rock artist Cody Wood, jazz vocalist Suzi Oliver and guitarist Bob Tucker.

Shirley Haymer and friends came to Age March after seeing a television advertisement for the event. “We came today, because we are seniors and are still very active, and we believe in seniors getting the respect that they’re due,” Haymer said.

Nadia Sutton, a 72-year-old resident of West Hollywood, said she doesn’t have time to think about age. She busies herself with work, activism and activities like boxing and weightlifting.

“People can be patronizing and condescending,” Sutton said. “When you tell certain ignorant people that you box, bench-press, or do a certain thing, and they come up and tap you on the shoulder and say, 'You’re so cute.' It’s really time that instead of just smiling and taking it, we say, ‘You’re out of line.’”

Brad Bessey, Executive Producer of CBS' The Talk, was influential in bringing public attention to Brooker’s movement. After hearing her as a guest on the show, Bessey was drawn to Brooker’s enthusiasm.

“She was so passionate about age awareness that I thought, ‘Wow, she’s talking about being almost 75 and vital and doing anything at any age,’” Bessey said. “I have a husband and a 3-year-old son. We came out today because while he’s 3, I’m 49, my husband is 40, Barbara is 75—it doesn’t matter what the age. To march with a group of people like this, it celebrates life, and I say ‘Why not?’

Brooker’s daughter Suzy Unger marched proudly beside her mother at Saturday’s event.

“My mother has been an inspiration and a pioneer since I was a child,” Unger said. “She’s been a visionary who’s never believed in labels, whatever the label was—gay, straight, black, white, purple or green. She says she’s 75 and wants to be a movie star now, and she will.”

For more information about Age March and founder Barbara Rose Brooker, visit www.agemarch.com.