Today, May 16th, marks National Honour Our LGBT Elders Day. As an ally, I am on a constant journey of learning. When I first met Wilbur last May to discuss the possibility of joining the board. I felt prepared—I knew a lot about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and was excited to help elevate the voices of those who had been silenced. Over our coffees, Wilbur shared some of the issues that the 50+ community was facing and the areas where advocacy was desperately needed.
I remember how utterly shocked I was to learn that many seniors transitioning to care did not have access to the support they deserved in their “golden years.” Retirement communities do not address the needs of rainbow elders, and healthcare workers supporting seniors are not required to be educated on the specific care needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ elders. This lack of understanding often resulted in many feeling shame and retreating back into the closet, just as they had to in their youth. I shared this reality with community leaders, including political figures, and each person I told was as unaware of it as I had been.
When the Board of Directors at Advocacy Canada appointed me as the Director of Communications, I knew I had a lot to do. I read studies from the Government of Canada, the Province of BC, Interior Health, and the BC Nurses’ Union. I visited the websites of Dignity Seniors Society, Qmunity, and the Senior Pride Network—and I continued to be shocked by the issues facing the aging population.
I researched the history of the Pride Flag, the Stonewall Riots, the Brunswick Four, the Montreal Riots, the Tea Dance and the Little Sister’s Bookshop seizure. I learned about the first Pride events across Canada, the origin of the Two-Spirit term, and so much more.
There is still so much I do not know about the history of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and the internet can only teach you so much. This past year, as Director of Communications, I have been deeply grateful for the Elders in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. They are the people I have learned the most from. Elders are the most valuable resource our community has. Their stories, when shared, weave a brilliant tapestry of history—one filled with experience, wisdom, resilience, pain, and joy.
Today, and every day, I honor the Elders of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—those who walked before us, broke down barriers, fought for rights and freedoms, lived experiences that shaped the lives of many, and those who continue the fight today.
P.S. If you’re 50+ and 2SLGBTQIA+, grab your ticket and join us for the Annual 50+ Pride Picnic & Tea Dance on June 22nd—let’s celebrate you!
