Honoring Our LGBTQ Elders

Tell us a little about yourself…

I am a 64 year young lesbian. I have been with the person of my life Leitner for 31 years. We have two 4 footed children Onyx and Paulie and one amazing adult daughter an amazing artist.  I grew up with my familiarity of the LGBTQ community in Mt. Vernon and PRIDE at the Dell. I am a therapist by profession and advocate by nature. My role in the community today is to advocate for all with an emphasis on our Elders which we will all become eventually become hopefully with grace and nature.

How long have you been coordinating ELDERPRIDE for the Pride Center?

I have been coordinating ELDERPRIDE since Chase Brexton created and organized its inaugural day at the Park in 2016. I am extremely proud and feel hopeful we will always be considered and included in the footprint of Baltimore Pride.

Why have you been doing it/what motivates you?

What motivates me, my age and the age of others who are frequently not visible in our community. I am proud to be an elder in a community with a shorter life expectancy. I feel the LGBTQ community can be age-centric despite our history that we continue to build on. Aging in our community can and usually in any community is less inclusive. I grew up realizing , being told and shown that as a community we are stronger, as an inclusive community especially as others try to divide us we don’t need to help them and the best resistance is inclusion.

When is ELDERPRIDE this year, and what can we expect?

This year ELDERPRIDE will be virtual with some passed memories of live ELDERPRIDE and messages from our Elders of what having this event has had meant to them from the first time attending, to returning after decades of not participating in Pride, coming home. For those that were unaware it will give you a glimpse of an amazing day and event to com.

What have been some of your best memories of Pride?

The fact that it exists and will continue to exist beyond us here and now. Getting to the park at 5:30 am and watching the tent go up and it becoming a multigenerational event. It is magical!