The community has a chance to learn about the seniors LGBTA2S+ community when the 91原创 Senior Resources Society Centre (LSRS) hosts its first Pride event Friday.

鈥淎lthough there is still a lot of work to do for LGBTQ seniors to feel completely comfortable and accepted, the world is a different place than it was when they were young. That鈥檚 why we鈥檝e invited a number of LGBTQ elders to speak about the battles they fought (and often won) against prejudice. For younger people, it is a way to celebrate those who forged paths for them to be able to live more authentic lives鈥� and to learn about the struggles older people endured to make it a more safe and just world for all people,鈥� explained Smitty Miller, the seniors鈥� centre program manager.

Silver Pride runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4, and features a family-friendly drag show, drag queen bingo, music, a speakers corner, drag queen story time, and a barbecue.

鈥淭he event will be a fun celebration and also an opportunity to meet trailblazers in the history of the LGBTQ community in the Lower Mainland,鈥� she said.

While there will be lots of fun and colour, there will also be opportunities to find out about the difficulties faced by people in the LGBTQ2S+ community. One of the speakers has a long history with Little Sisters Bookstore.

鈥淏arb Thomas will be here talking about her experiences 鈥榖ack in the day鈥� when the store was bombed a number of times and the legal case that went to the Supreme Court of Canada regarding the import of LGBTQ materials being blocked by Canada Customs,鈥� Miller said.

There will be a variety of guest speakers on various aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

鈥淲e鈥檒l also hear from a member of LSRS who won a court case when her employer denied her benefits because of her orientation. In addition, Wayne Davis from the LGBT Purge Fund and Ron Dutton from the Vancouver Gay and Lesbian Archives will be in attendance,鈥� she said.

Miller said SAGE, an advocacy group for LGBTQ+ seniors notes that older LGBTQ people are twice as likely to be single and four times less likely to have children than non-gay peers. There鈥檚 also many who are estranged from family because of their orientation. Being LGBTQ2S+ also has broader implications on such things as whether the senior receives adequate health care.

鈥淎 lot of people in their 70s and 80s who have been closeted don鈥檛 feel safe being 鈥榦ut鈥� when they are undergoing medical or long-term care. This causes a myriad of gaps in their care experience,鈥� she said.

The centre鈥檚 first Pride event is open to all.

鈥淓veryone and anyone of any age, gender, city 鈥� we just wanted to celebrate being humans together while acknowledging the history of gay people in 91原创,鈥� Miller said.

The centre is committed to being an inclusive organization, a key reason behind hosting the event. The centre has already received what Miller called a 鈥減olitely worded piece of hate mail鈥� since announcing the event, an example of just why the non-profit organization is working to foster inclusion.

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