“The Old Gays” are teaching us how to get the most out of life on TikTok

In Cathedral City, CA, four gay men have fashioned a chosen family for themselves among the desert palms, where they gather by the pool daily, support one another fully, and share their best lives with millions of followers on TikTok.

Known by their handle, “The Old Gays,” Robert Reeves, 79, Michael Peterson, 67, and Bill Lyons, 78, share a house in the Coachella Valley oasis near Palm Springs, while Jessay Martin, 69, lives across the street. The three roommates, a kind of modern queer version of The Golden Girls, have lived together for nearly a decade in Reeves’ mid-century modern ranch house. Martin later joined the group as part of their social media adventure. The four have been fast friends ever since.

“The Old Gays” have nearly 9 million followers on TikTok and an eye-popping 1.5 billion cumulative views. Their wildly popular videos are a mix of viral dances, skits, and lip-syncs, and they never pass up the opportunity for a costume change. They also reach across generations to share stories about coming out, their lives as younger men, dating at an older age, and frank discussions about growing older.

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