Loud and proud at Kensington Health

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Loud and proud at Kensington Health


50 years ago being gay was illegal in Canada and the United States.


June 28, 1969 marks a monumental time when the Stonewall uprising sparked the gay rights movement across North America. The Stonewall riots took place in Manhattan, New York City, early in the morning at the Stonewall Inn. Stonewall is recognized as history's first major protest on behalf of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community.


Dennis is a long-term care resident who lives at Kensington Gardens. For him, Stonewall is a historic day that represents the fight, but not necessarily the battle for gay rights.


For many folks living in long-term care can feel like going back in the closet. When Dennis moved into Kensington, he had similar fears. He wondered, will I be accepted? Will I be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation? As the co-chair of this year’s Pride Event at Kensington, Dennis wants all residents to know Kensington is a safe place to live and be proud of who you are.


“I am comfortable with who I am here and I can be myself at Kensington,” said Dennis.


As an artist and member of Kensington’s We Respect All People Committee (W.R.A.P), Dennis designed the logo for this year’s Kensington Pride event. He wanted the logo to look like a superhero emblem that superheroes here can wear proudly. “We’ve fought hard for these rights,” said Dennis. “The superheroes and our allies deserve to be recognized for their efforts.”


Kensington staff wearing Kensington Pride t-shirts designed by Dennis. 

Dennis reminds others who are living in long-term care that, “you have hidden for too long and deserve to true to yourself.” He encourages open conversation to educate others about the LGBTQ+ community within long-term care. “Everyone deserves dignity. Every single human being.”



Dennis, resident at Kensington Gardens, and Teri, social worker are co-chairs for this year's Pride Committee.
 

Involving community in everything we do.


On June 3, Kensington celebrated Pride through a liberating morning of reflection, dance, drag and music. Last year’s pride event ignited a new committee at Kensington Health: The W.R.A.P. committee. The W.R.A.P. Committee organized a special Pride Committee to plan this year’s event, and it involves three residents, and many Kensington employees who prepared the Pride event at Kensington Health.


Colourful breakfast kindly provided by Kensington's Food and Nutrition team. 

Teri, a social worker at Kensington, is the other co-chair of the Pride Committee, a member of W.R.A.P and a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

“There’s a history of oppression that gets knocked down every time a flag is raised,” said Teri. “This June commemorates all of us. Diversity intersects.”

For comments and inquiries about diversity at Kensington Health please contact us. 

Posted in Featured, Featured Long-term Care, Long-term Care, Your Impact on Jul 02, 2019

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