Seniors are all vulnerable to isolation—being queer adds another layer to that experience, says Allie King, Qmunity’s seniors program coordinator. Since 1979, Qmunity has served as a resource centre for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their allies. Their Seniors and Older Adults program—open to those age 55 and above—offers weekly support, including luncheons, yoga classes and other social opportunities.

 “There’s a lot of people who come out or are transitioning later in life…and are having to navigate life in a very different way and go through a very tender and fearful time,” King adds that the shared commonality of age is highly valuable. “There’s an understanding of the kind of world that our participants grew up in, the kind of family structures, the ideals of what it means to be successful and worthy as a person.”

Finding commonality

King points out that much of Pride “is inclusive of and driven by young people,” making it all the more important to have seniors-only spaces.

“Many of our program participants have experienced the waves of discrimination and otherization imposed by societal norms and policy,” she says. “Conversely, they’ve seen the wins—they fought for our rights, and they saw the fruits of that labour.”

And, like other seniors, they also face what King calls “common issues of aging.” These include food and housing insecurity. Social isolation, she adds, can exacerbate these issues—leading to mental and physical health challenges.

“There’s a common understanding that blood is not always thicker than water, and the need for chosen family is very real and important,” King emphasizes. “There’s always the option to align yourself and surround yourself with people you feel comfortable.”

According to King, the program started “in a pretty humble fashion” with meetups during the mid-2000s. It has since grown to offer regular activities—such as an online creative writing group.

Their annual programming includes four major events: Spring Fling, Aging with Pride, Honouring Our Elders and Winter Warm Up.

“Spring Fling is more of an informal event to welcome the spring months, to reiterate our commitment to our program participants [and] highlight upcoming events in the summer or late spring,” King shares. “There’s usually music and dancing; this year we had barbeque.”

Creating inclusive spaces

For Aging with Pride 2026, Qmunity has partnered with several local organizations, including the West End Seniors Network, Vancouver Friends for Life, Roedde House Museum and Gordon Neighbourhood House.

“That event will have free food, refreshments and more of a festival atmosphere with some drag and musical performances from fellow queer and trans older adults,” King shares.

Another partner is Cycling without Age, which allows seniors to experience the city on trishaws (three-wheeled bicycles). In the past, Honouring Our Elders—which features a three-course lunch—has been hosted at the Sylvia Hotel.

King describes it as more of a “high brow” event. Themes have included legal advocacy, political activism and the relaunch of Angles, a newspaper published by the Vancouver Gay Community Centre Society during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“[Our lunch program] is a very beloved program, and it’s a chance for seniors to get a free nutritious meal once a week,” King says. “It’s a chance to just connect with people in their community.”

King joined Qmunity in August 2024; she previously worked in long-term care as a music therapist. Being able to witness how this program benefits participants is a highlight of her work.

“I’ve seen recently at Spring Fling of one person who really, really bloomed, and it was transformative—[they] were so in their element,” King recalls. “And it shows how our program was directly helpful for this person’s life and sense of community.”

The program’s annual Pride event, Aging with Pride, will occur on July 17. In Canada, June marks the beginning of Pride season.  

For more information, see https://www.qmunity.ca/seniors.