National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day 2023: The 16th of May is National Honour Our LGBT Elders Day, a time to honour those who paved the way for the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community to obtain and continue to pursue vital legislation and rights. We owe numerous ancestors gratitude for the decades-long progress made towards equality. Similar to other civil rights movements, their work has been challenging. Their struggles and victories were marked by courage, perseverance, passion, and sincerity; therefore, we honour them today.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL HONOUR OUR LGBT ELDERS DAY
With Pride Month (June) just around the corner, National Honour Our LGBT Elders Day allows us to remember and recognise those who have paved the way for us to completely celebrate the LGBT community by opening doors and paving the way.
Chase Brexton Health Care, the LGBT Health Resource Centre, was founded in response to the LGBT community’s need for competent health care. They officially designated May 16 as National Honour Our LGBT Elders Day in the National Day Registry. The objectives of this national day include raising awareness about those who came before, recognising their achievements and struggles, providing tools such as healthcare services and counselling, patient resources, and adequate social services to those who contributed to the advancement of LGBT equality.
Marchers, protestors, flag-wavers, supporters, and cheerleaders who joined together to embrace and encourage the movement are among our elders. But there are also individuals from all walks of life, including doctors, politicians, educators, business leaders, and members of the military, who have served as mentors and true trailblazers, putting their own safety and security at risk to advance the LGBT movement.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL HONOUR OUR LGBT ELDERS DAY
scholarly history
The history of sexual orientation-related civil rights activism is not as extensively discussed as the movements for gender and racial equality. Today is the ideal time to conduct research on the pioneers of this movement, whose astounding tales of adversity and sacrifice paved the way for legislative reform and social awareness.
Request that someone share their story.
Request that someone in your social orbit share their personal experience as an LGBT individual. Inquire about the obstacles they have encountered, who has served as a mentor or played a pivotal role in their life trajectory, and how you can continue to support the fight for equality.
Visit a memorial
Memorials honouring the LGBT community continue to proliferate throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Spend a few minutes researching local events and join others in learning about and honouring our LGBT elders.
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5 PIONEERING MEMBERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY
Gilbert Baker
Baker, a homosexual artist born in 1951, taught himself to embroider following his honourable discharge from the United States Army. He designed the rainbow flag with eight stripes as a symbol of pride for the homosexual community.
Margarethe “Grethe”
Cammermeyer, who was born in Norway in 1942 and naturalised in 1961, served as a colonel in the Washington National Guard. Glenn Close portrayed her narrative in the 1995 film Serving in Silence.
Jean Arden Eversmeyer
Eversmeyer, born in 1931 and known as “Arden,” established two organisations, Lesbians Over Age Fifty (LOAF) and the Old Lesbian Oral History Project (OLOHP), to provide older lesbians with access to community resources and to ensure that their unique life stories are documented and celebrated.
Frank Kameny
Frank Kameny is a prominent figure in the American homosexual rights movement. Through his efforts, homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Paul John Hudson
Hudson, a primary organiser of the first homosexual pride march in New York City one year after the Stonewall riots, served as the first Grand Marshall of the march.
WHY NATIONAL HONOUR OUR LGBT ELDERS DAY IS IMPORTANT
We enjoy saying “Thanks”
The purpose of this day is to honour those who have walked before us through extremely difficult circumstances, and the veneration of pioneers makes everyone feel good.
We venerate our elders
Asking others about their life experiences demonstrates courtesy, deference, and compassion. Movements for civil rights would not be necessary if we already felt compassion for all humanity. Knowing a person who is different from you paves the way for empathy, so go ahead and ask questions and get to know people.
We can repay those who have helped us.
According to studies, senior LGBT Americans not only have a smaller support network than their heterosexual counterparts, but they have also “gone back into the closet” to avoid further isolation and discrimination. Volunteer to assist LGBT seniors with day-to-day tasks and include them in your social orbit to show your support.
NATIONAL HONOR OUR LGBT ELDERS DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 16 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | May 16 | Thursday |
| 2025 | May 16 | Friday |
| 2026 | May 16 | Saturday |
| 2027 | May 16 | Sunday |
