el Refugio Dorado

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO –Rikk Utas, a survivor of the decades that decimated generations of gay men, announces the launch of Refugio Dorado (The Golden Refuge). This innovative residential compound in Jalisco, Mexico, is the first of its kind: a self-sustaining, “Chosen Family” community designed specifically for LGBTQ+ seniors who lost their traditional safety nets during the AIDS epidemic.  “I lived through a ten-year period where I realised there was not one man left who had known me for longer than two years,” says Rikk, Founder of Refugio Dorado. “We are building this for the survivors. We are reclaiming the family we lost by creating a home where no one has to age in isolation.”

A New Model for Longevity Refugio Dorado breaks the “clinical” mould of senior living. Moving away from institutionalised care, the project utilizes a “Hacienda Model” centered on a 40-unit compound in the Guadalajara/Lake Chapala region. Key features include:

•  The “Chosen Family” Care Model: Professional 24/7 on-site medical support and a “buddy system” designed for men who may not have biological children or heirs.

• • Radical Sustainability: The compound is engineered for autonomy, featuring high-capacity solar power, medical-grade water purification, and a grey-water recycling system that feeds lush communal gardens and “edible” rooftops.
• • The “Golden Brother” Suite: Innovative 2-bedroom/2-bathroom layouts that allow friends to age together as roommates, drastically reducing the cost of living while increasing social connection.

Financial Sovereignty in Mexico By leveraging the lower cost of living and world-class healthcare in Mexico, Refugio Dorado offers a “Luxury of Scale”.  Members can live with dignity, security, and professional care for a fraction of the cost of traditional assisted living in the US, Canada, or Europe.

Join the Legacy The project is currently in its Phase 1 Founders’ Recruitment and has launched a global crowdfunding campaign to fund the initial “soft costs” and legal incorporation in Mexico.

“We aren’t just building a house; we are building a circular ecosystem,” says Rikk.  “With solar autonomy and thick-wall privacy, we are shielding our brothers from the rising costs of the world outside, allowing them to focus on what matters: living well, together.”

For more information, to contribute to the GoFundMe, or to apply for a Founders’ Tier residency, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/build-a-chosen-family-compound-for-ageing-gay-men?utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&utm_content=amp17_tb&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US

Contact:  Refugio Dorado rikkutas@proton.me