As part of Seniors and Pride Month in Toronto, and in honour of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and other gender- and sexually-diverse (2SLGBTQI+) seniors who fought for progress, the City of Toronto has released a revitalized 2SLGBTQI+ Tool Kit for Seniors.
In recognition of 2SLGBTQI+ seniors who have experienced decades of discrimination and face specific challenges as they age, the City’s Seniors Services and Long-Term Care (SSLTC) division has collaborated with community members, service providers, advocates and allies to revitalize the training Tool Kit for long-term care staff and service providers throughout the continuum of senior supports.
In 2004, the City became one of the first providers in North America to embrace a model of long-term care that affirms seniors who identify as 2SLGBTQI+. The revitalized Tool Kit, Leading & Learning with Pride, equips staff and organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide respectful, inclusive and affirming care to 2SLGBTQI+ seniors. Building on earlier versions released in 2008 and 2017, the newest Tool Kit aims to advance Recommendation 22 of the Toronto Seniors Strategy 2.0, which directs City staff to educate and build awareness against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia affecting Toronto seniors: www.toronto.ca/city-government
Leading & Learning with Pride was co-developed with a close-knit working group of community members, service providers, advocates and allies who met regularly from September 2021 to March 2022 to redevelop the Tool Kit piece-by-piece. The result is a resource truly by and for the community, with a diverse array of lived experiences and perspectives represented.
In addition to the Tool Kit, staff can register to attend a 30-minute webinar or in-person information session. These sessions aim to get staff and community partners acquainted with the new content and excited about using the Tool Kit to offer programs, services and events with a 2SLGBTQI+ focus and inclusivity.
More information about Leading & Learning with Pride is available on the City’s Seniors Services and Long-Term Care webpage: www.toronto.ca/community-peopl
Quotes:
“In Toronto we are proud to celebrate the 2SLGBTQI+ community’s contributions to the cultural fabric of our city and we are committed to making Toronto a welcoming place for everyone. As part of our work to create a more inclusive city, we have developed a Tool Kit that will support our efforts in creating more respectful, inclusive and affirming services that address homophobia, biphobia and transphobia affecting Toronto seniors and LTC residents. This Tool Kit will be used by staff in our Seniors Services and Long-Term Care division to better support residents, community seniors, service users, families and more.”
– Mayor John Tory
“The Tool Kit features content and resources to aid in delivering respectful, inclusive and affirming care to 2SLGBTQI+ seniors for a large audience in many community settings such as health care, homecare, retirement and long-term care.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“The City of Toronto recognizes and celebrates the diversity and lived experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ seniors. This revitalized Tool Kit is possible thanks to a working group of community seniors and allied service providers, coming together to help us create services that are truly inclusive, welcoming and representative of our core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, free from the harms of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. We look forward to walking this path together to create a brighter, more equitable future for 2SLGBTQI+ senior communities.”
– Jennifer Dockery, General Manager, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care
SOURCE City of Toronto
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