Raising awareness and fostering welcoming environments for our senior citizens.
For more than 10 years, Aging Gayfully has defended the rights of LGBTQ+ seniors, offering tools and training to those who support them.
Consult our directory of organizations that have signed our Charter for the fair treatment of LGBT seniors.
Posters, guides, videos, and other resources to make your community more inclusive.
To raise awareness and answer common questions.
TRAINING CONTENT
The Aging Gayfully training is FREE and lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. It includes: an overview of concepts related to sexual and gender diversity; the evolution of LGBT rights and their impact on different generations; good practices to make environments more inclusive for LGBT seniors; and a testimonial from an LGBT senior about their life experiences.
Upcoming events
Tue., Jun. 29Online workshopJun. 29, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Online workshopIn this workshop, Claire Webster will explain through her 12 years experience as a caregiver for her mother, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the lessons she has learned in terms of the appropriate tools for manage care well, without forgetting the financial impact
Tue., Jul. 06Workshop by videoconference
Wed., Jul. 14Online workshopJul. 14, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.Online workshopIn this workshop, Claire Webster will explain through her 12 years experience as a caregiver for her mother, the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, as well as the lessons she has learned in terms of the appropriate tools for manage care well, without forgetting the financial impact- Thu., Aug. 05Workshop by videoconference
- Tue., Sep. 07Workshop by videoconference
Awareness material
Charter of fair treatment
The charter can be displayed in places where seniors meet. It signals your organization’s commitment to the eleven principles of fair treatment to foster a homophobia and transphobia-free environment. To join our list of signatories, your organization must first take the training, and then have the charter formally adopted by your Board of Directors.
Charter of fair treatment
Why LGBT seniors?
While an estimated 10% of seniors are LGBT, they remain largely invisible, often for fear of disclosing their homosexuality or transidentity.
Many have been forced into hiding during their lives to avoid prison, therapy, or rejection from their families, religious communities and society as a whole.
Such rejection and prejudice has left its mark, and several studies confirm that LGBT seniors constitute a particularly vulnerable population. Though it might be less evident than in the past, the stigma and prejudice suffered by LGBT people persists today. For many, aging gives rise to the fear that they will be isolated in an unwelcoming environment, because they are perceived as being different.
This is why Fondation Émergence has been committed for more than 10 years to making seniors' communities more inclusive.
To ensure that our training course and tools stay relevant and accurate, we work in collaboration with LGBT seniors (the working group) and key stakeholders in senior services (the advisory committee).
The Memory Thesis Project
The Memory Thesis Project, which is part of the Aging Gayfully program, honours the contribution of activists who have fought to improve the situation for LGBTQ+ people in Quebec today.
In the media
Articles
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Objectif Prévention - vol. 41 n 3 2018 : Des aînés bien desservis, par Benoit Gorez et Lucie Legault. Lire l'article
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FADOQ – Magazine Virage, automne 2017 : Vieillir gai, dans la dignité, par Sophie Gagnon Lire l'article
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Journal de Montréal, 17 septembre 2017 : Cohabitation entre hétéros et gais dans une résidence, par Magalie Lapointe Lire l'article
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AREQ – Quoi de neuf?, automne 2017 : Pour que vieillir soit gai, Fondation Émergence
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Huffington Post - «Si je ne peux pas parler des femmes que j’ai aimées, alors on m’enterre déjà» - 12/08/2019 Lire l'article
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Huffington Post - "Être aîné et LGBTQ+: lorsque l’âgisme rencontre l’homophobie et la transphobie" - 14/09/2019 Lire l'article