For decades, the LGBTQ+ community has come together to create spaces that support and advocate for their wellbeing. Amidst the stigmatization, discrimination, and oppression, these spaces have always held significant importance as they provide LGBTQ+ people with the resources they need to thrive against daily political, socio-economic, and societal injustices that they face. Most notably, the stigma those within the LGBTQ+ community received during the HIV/AIDS epidemic as the government disregarded our community and refused to provide adequate aid to those impacted by HIV. Once again, we had to advocate for ourselves and fight for our right to life – not only is living an act of resistance in itself, but thriving as someone impacted by HIV is as well.
Such an act requires recognition, and with that comes our program. Thrivers is a monthly discussion group for people impacted by HIV that relies on the personal expertise within our communities to help one another get the most out of life and to take advantage of the opportunities before us. Some of our previous discussion topics have been living pridefully with HIV, the impact of healthcare discrimination, and interpersonal effectiveness; moreover, we actively encourage participants’ agency within the group via always welcoming topic suggestions. Connecting with one another, sharing with one another, and supporting one another are all ways we can continue to enrich our lives as LGBTQ+ older adults. Community is what has always been at the root of safe, reliable spaces for our community, and Thrivers wants to be another space like that for you. Thrivers meets on the last Saturday of the month at noon!
Please contact us for more information via email at elders@waygay.org or giving us a call at 215-720-9415 and we would love for you to join us!