Cultivating inclusion

Cultivating inclusion

GRIS Estrie launches initiative for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors

William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

GRIS Estrie is launching a new initiative aimed at 2SLGBTQ+ seniors, addressing the unique challenges faced by those aged 55 and older in the Eastern Townships. The project, Pour que GRIS soit arc-en-ciel, will bring discussion groups, educational workshops, and an online platform to communities across the region in an effort to create more inclusive and supportive spaces.

According to GRIS Estrie Director General Samuell Beaudoin, 2SLGBTQ+ seniors are often overlooked. “They are used to seeing services focused on young folks, but we forget that people over 55 are also part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” Beaudoin said in a Feb. 3 interview. “There are prejudices to demystify, and the way to address them differs from younger generations. It’s not that there are more prejudices—just different ones.”

Beaudoin noted that many 2SLGBTQ+ seniors have lived through periods of intense discrimination, both politically and socially. As a result, some retreat back into the closet when they enter new environments, particularly in seniors’ residences or community spaces where they are unsure of how they will be received. “When the political landscape gets tougher, people tend to hide,” Beaudoin said. “Some 2SLGBTQ+ elders go back into the closet just to ensure they are in a safe environment.”

To counter this isolation and promote understanding, GRIS Estrie will hold demystification workshops specifically tailored for seniors. The organization will also introduce coffee meetings and themed conferences designed to foster conversation and exchange. One session, titled When I Was Young, There Was No Such Thing as Gender Diversity, aims to connect with participants through historical context and personal experiences. Another, I Just Introduced My Daughter’s Girlfriend to My Family, will address evolving family dynamics and societal acceptance.

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