Creating LGBTQ2S+ inclusive and age-friendly communities this Pride Month
Throughout Pride Month, BCCPA and EngAge BC celebrates older adults in the LGBTQ2S+ community and recognizes both the achievements they have made, and the barriers they continue to face. Across the country, many projects and initiatives are looking at the experiences of Queer older adults, and aiming to make positive changes.
One example of this is the Diverse Experiences in Aging Research (DEAR) Collaborative, which has created the Aging in Community: A Focus on Older LGBTQ2S+ Canadians project based on the Inclusive Age-Friendly Communities initiative. The purpose of the project is to identify and define LGBTQ2S+ friendly environment for older adults and consequently improve inclusivity and safety within these spaces.
The Aging in Community research report found that older Queer adults described LGBTQ2S+ friendly communities as:
- Being diverse and intergenerational
- Being free from harassment and discrimination
- Having inclusive programs and services
- Supporting systemic inclusion and visibility
- Being encompassing and Compassionate[1]
The DEAR Collaborative has also offered the following recommendations to help ensure better communities for LGBTQ2S+ older adults:
Visit the project here to see the full research report.
END NOTES
[1] Wilson, Kimberly et al. “Aging in community: a focus on older LGBTQ2S+ Canadians [Infographic],” DEAR Collaborative, March 2022, http://dearcollab.ca/age-friendly/.
[2] Wilson, Kimberly et al. 2022. Aging in community: a focus on older LGBTQ2S+ Canadians. ON: University of Guelph & University of Ottawa.