LGBTQ+ conversation at the Golden Circle deemed successful

Tuesday afternoon saw a nearly full house at the Golden Circle for a discussion surrounding the needs of the aging LGBTQ+ community in Red Deer and across the province.

Minister of Seniors and Housing, Lori Sigurdson, delivered opening remarks before panel speakers Michael Phair, Serge Gingras and Alyx Thomas led the rest of the discussion.

Sigurdson said the Alberta government is working towards supporting seniors in their ability to age in their own community and home, which is where most seniors say they would like to be.

“We are committed to making sure that Albertan’s have the housing that they need and this includes LGBTQ+ seniors of course,” said Sigurdson, adding it’s a focus of the government to ensure all Albertan’s feel that they have a safe and secure place to call home. “We need to ensure that this place is free of harassment and bullying and even though acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has come a long way, many o fyou may know someone, friends or loves ones who are not always accepted as equals.”

At present, there are approximately 35,000 LGBTQ+ seniors in Alberta. Sigurdson said they acknowledge that there are challenges for this community and that these seniors are less likely to have partners or family or children who can provide the supports when they need them.

Individuals aged 55 and over

Central Alberta Older Adult Employment Strategy Assessment Project full report released

3h ago

UPDATE

Red Deer Polytechnic confirms student death on-campus

6h ago

retrofitting building

Carnival Cinemas applies to rezone for residential development

8h ago

Thomas said that as part of the transgendered community aging in place is a complex issue, the same as dealing with the health care system and support systems in the community.

“I think the importance of [today’s conversation] is to make the community aware of people who feel like they’re alone, people who feel like nobody listens and people that even have a hard time coming out in any sort of area,” he said.

A large part of the conference looked at what needs the LGBTQ+ community has as they age and begin dealing with home care, health care, and even housing options.

A large stumbling block for much of the LGBTQ+ community, according to Thomas, is that “there is no mark on their heads.” So there is no way to identify someone as being from that community when dealing with them as a health care professional.

Thomas added that patience is the number one virtue of anybody in the health care field dealing with any type of patient.

“Sometimes our disabilities are invisible to people, so assumptions are made. [We need to get] back to the days where we actually sat and talked and had a verbal conversation without all the technology around,” said Thomas.

Thomas talked during Tuesday’s conversation about how as a youth he was referred to as “complicated.”

“I’m 45 and I look at my life and think I’ve gone through the preliminaries, the elementary, junior high and high school, and those years for me were hard.”

Thomas said it might be time that the mental health community see an increase in the “curriculum” that they study to aid in their ability to assist transgender people.

“People will say ‘yeah I’m okay with that’ but I’ve learned one thing in my life; until it reaches your doorstep you really won’t get the first hand feel of it.”

The LGBTQ+ Aging community conversation was held as a part of Central Alberta Pride Week.