Honouring Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual Elders (Aug/Sep 2004)

On June 27 of this year, the 411 Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered, Bisexual (LGTB) Generations Project, a partnership between The Centre (an organization that serves and supports Vancouver’s LGTB communities), the 411 Seniors Centre, and Family Services of Greater Vancouver, had the privilege of hosting another historical event in Vancouver - Honouring Our Elders. Honouring Our Elders was a “High Tea” held at the beautiful Nova Scotia Dance Centre to honour individuals recognized as elders by their own communities, and to commemorate two of the most significant events in the history of the LGTB movement. Hats off to The Centre for taking the initiative on this momentous and incredibly successful event!

The first of the two significant events commemorated was the 35^th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada as a result of a Bill initiated and passed by the Trudeau government in 1969. Shortly after this historical moment, Vancouver’s first gay activist group, GATE, was formed. Other activist groups and small gay presses started up over the next few years. The gay and lesbian rights movement had become a presence in Vancouver, and remains so today.

The second commemorative event was Stonewall. Stonewall was a gay bar in New York City that was raided by the police. Police raids on gay establishments had been a common event of the 1950s and 1960s. What was uncommon about this raid was the response of the patrons. They fought back. Over the next weeks the resistance grew; a series of protests arose in New York City, and across North America. This memorable event has been marked by many people as the beginning of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement.

During the Honouring Our Elders event, forty-two elders were seated in luxury, served tea by Bill Munroe, the Queen of the local LGTB community, and entertained by the multigenerational choir ensemble of Glass and Stained Glass. An elder from each of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities shared some of their experiences with the appreciative gathering.

A local jeweler created sterling silver lapel pins in the shape of the well-known rainbow flag, and engraved with the words “In Appreciation”. Each of the elders was individually presented with a pin. Finally, while they nibbled on petit fours and dainty squares, many of the guests of this all ages community event reveled in a wall-full of posters, photographs, and news clippings depicting three decades of LGTB history in Vancouver.

It seems everybody had a fabulous time. It seems everyone agrees it was a good idea to recognize and celebrate the presence, experiences, and contributions of the elders in their communities. And it seems everyone thinks we should do it again, so we will! See you all next spring for the second annual Honouring Our Elders affair.

~Susan Sorrell