According to its terms of reference, the Senior Pride Network (SPN) is a gathering of both individuals and representatives of various organizations who support the improvement and expansion of programs and services for older lesbian, gay, bisexual transsexual and transgender (LGBTT) people. The Network meets quarterly, often at the 519 Church Street Community Centre (The 519) and receives staff support from the Centre.

The Network provides a focus for training and work with and for older LGBTT people. The majority of the membership is representative of organizations that provide services to seniors (home support, Meals on Wheels, long term care) as well as faith groups, hospitals, community health centres, and community groups of older LGBTT people (Prime Timers, Fifty Plus Toronto). Besides its quarterly gatherings, the Network hosts an annual one day conference for older LGBTT people and for service providers.

The SPN began in 2001 when I, as newly-appointed Coordinator of the Older LGBTT Program at The 519, held a series of community meetings with small groups of older LGBTT people. I asked them about their experience of growing old, their hopes and fears. A consistent finding from all groups was the fear of becoming dependent, having to receive care in the home and even more fear of having to go to a nursing home.

The fear springs from a life time of negative experiences with the health care system. Such experiences were documented in a study by the Coalition of Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario in its Systems Failure Report of 1997. Misdiagnoses, neglect and discrimination were (and continue to be) common experiences of LGBTT people. These experiences stem from the fact that health care professionals get little exposure to information about LGBTT people in their education and that research into the health issues and experiences of LGBTT people is severely limited.

Concerned about these fears, I contacted various organizations with a responsibility for elder care including Public Health Toronto, The AIDS Committee of Toronto, Family Service Association, St. Michael's and Women's College Hospitals, Central Neighbourhood House and a long term care home among others. I asked these organizations what they were doing to serve older LGBTT people. The consistent answer was "We don't have any older LGBTT people among our clients/residents" or "We don't know what their needs are".

Representatives of these groups worked with me to develop a series of community forums aimed at addressing the issues and needs. The first on Healthy Aging, the second on Building Community. Both forums featured older LGBTT people speaking of their experience and research as well as knowledgeable professionals on various health issues. The turn out for these forums was strong and the feedback was positive.

The group of service providers was joined by representatives of queer seniors' organizations and they began to meet regularly. Around the same time, the Canadian Association of Gerontology scheduled a meeting in Toronto. Anna Travers, of Sherbourne Health Centre, and I submitted a proposal on Older LGBTT people and their needs. The proposal was accepted and the subsequent workshop well-received by the small number of conference participants. There-after, I took every opportunity to present at various conferences and forums thereby spreading awareness of Older LGBTT people and their needs.

At the time, 2004, the Toronto District Health Council hosted a Placement Forum made up of a variety of organizations interested in and providing long term care. I was invited to present at this forum and my remarks stimulated various players to take note and act. Sandra Pitters, Director of the City of Toronto Long Term Care Homes and Services Division, approached me about proposing to the Ministry to set aside beds in three of its ten homes for LGBTT people. This initiative led to a series of staff training sessions at Fudger House, True Davidson Acres and Kipling Acres. I joined with colleagues from Sherbourne Health Centre and the LGBTT community to devise and present the training.

Throughout this period, the SPN was meeting and members were becoming aware of service gaps and of the need for staff training, which various other members of the Network (The 519 and Sherbourne Health Centre) provided. Members reached out to the coordinator of the program preparing Personal Support Workers (PSWs) at George Brown College who joined the Network and facilitated presentations to PSW students in the course of their studies. Later a connection was made with the Activation Coordination program at George Brown and workshops were offered to these students.

In 1999 Jack Harmer, a member of the Network, celebrated his 65th birthday by hosting a fundraiser. By asking for sponsorship for his big swim, he raised $2500 for the Visibility Project. The aim of the project was to develop a publicity piece that would raise awareness of older LGBTT people and their contribution to the community. Jennifer Lafontaine suggested a poster. She recruited a number of older LGBTT photographers and supplied them with film. I put the call out for volunteer models and a number of people from across the community came forward. A 519 volunteer who taught design at community college pitched in to design the poster and all the money raised went to print 2000 posters.

The poster launch was hosted by the Homes and Services Division of the City and held at Fudger House. Member agencies hosted information tables and students from the Triangle School (a small, public, alternative high school for LGBTT students) inter-viewed various poster models. One hundred people attended and Xtra ran a story on the event as did Outlook, a national gay magazine. The poster has since been distributed throughout the community and graces the walls of community health centres, home support agencies and senior centres.

In 2006, the Network decided to host a one day conference to promote knowledge exchange, networking and learning for both older LGBTT people and service providers. Expecting perhaps 50 or 60 registrants, the network was delighted when 150 people registered. The feedback was positive and the conference continues, each year growing in registrations and the quality of speakers, film offerings and workshops.

As membership in the SPN became mostly service providers, the planning committee for the 2009 conference planned a session for the LGBTT seniors that explored the issue of advocacy and identified various issues. Participants were invited to provide their names and contact information for a follow-up session which became The Queer Seniors Association. It continues to meet and recently developed terms of reference and an agenda for action. It intends to liaise with the SPN and other seniors advocacy groups to speak up for issues and concerns of older LGBTT people.

At this time the Senior Pride Network is considering a proposal from the 519 Church Street Community Centre to become a program of the 519 under the Older LGBTT program. Members have approved this change in principle and new terms of reference are being developed.

For further information about the Senior Pride Network contact Janet Rowe, Program Director at The 519 Church Street Community Centre (janet@the519.org)