While many gay kids today are loud and proud, and there are more and more services aimed at helping them cope with the bigotry and the bullying, many gay seniors live lonely lives of quiet desperation.
Neglected by the health system...invisible even in the gay community. They grew up before Stonewall, before gay sex was legalized in Canada in 1969.The brutal oppression of the past has left many of them traumatized, fearful, and isolated. Unable to socialize with straight people their age... because so many straight seniors cling to the homophobia of the past. And no places for gay seniors to meet.
So the gay community has been trying to create spaces and groups where these seniors can get together, socialize, organize, play cards whatever. But most of all can feel free and SAFE to be who they are. At last.
So you can imagine how disgusted I was to see that one of these refuges....the Pride Centre in Edmonton.... is struggling to survive. After losing its charitable status because Stephen Harper's foul Cons have declared it political.
On Friday, the Canada Revenue Agency could not confirm the exact circumstances, but apparently the GLCCE lost its charitable status when the federal government deemed it political.
You know these creepy theocons.
Who are still waging war against gay people,and women,from behind the curtains of the PMO.
So a Pride Centre that helps the victims of homophobia is considered too political. But religious fanatics who preach hate and tell people who they can't vote for, depending on their position on abortion or gay rights, are NOT.
Is Focus on the Family, a registered charity, an apolitical organization?
In 2003, Bishop Frederick Henry, of Calgary, declared that then prime minister Jean Chretien was putting his eternal salvation in jeopardy by introducing same-sex marriage legislation. "He's making a morally grave error," said Henry, "and he's not being accountable to God."
Because Focus on the Family and the loony tune homophobe Bishop Fred Henry are not POLITICAL.
Right.
So gay seniors could be left out in the cold...victimized yet AGAIN by the hideous homophobia that scarred their lives... and left them isolated, lonely, and frightened.
As if they haven't suffered enough.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Until we drive Stephen Harper and his creepy theocon conspiracy from power, no woman or gay person in Canada is safe.
Defeat them, crush them, finish them off...
