Threads of Us: Volunteerism, Care and Kinship in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

Threads of Us: Volunteerism, Care and
Kinship in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Report (pdf), Volunteer / Bénévoles Canada, 2025

Contents:

• Introduction

• Archiving Queer Histories: Volunteer Contributions to Preserving 2SLGBTQIA+ Narratives and Memories

• Ecosystems of Care: How Volunteers Sustain Trans Health and Legal Advocacy

• Volunteering as Kinship: Chosen Families in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Solidarity in Action: Mutual Aid, Redistribution and Care in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Conclusion

Excerpt [p. 28]: ... For queer elders, especially those who have outlived partners and been cut off from biological family, these networks can be a lifeline. In Vancouver, Dignity Seniors Society’s volunteer-run We Are Familee program helps 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors age in place.

In Toronto, intergenerational volunteers with the Senior Pride Network [now: Senior Pride Network Canada / Réseau de la Fierté des personnes aînées du Canada (SPNC/RFAC)] offer everything from advocacy to end-of-life planning support in ways that honour chosen family as real and vital.

Whether it’s accompanying someone to an appointment or just spending time together, these efforts help preserve dignity, community memory, and mental health. These networks don’t just provide companionship, they reduce isolation, preserve community memory, and contribute to better mental health outcomes for queer seniors. ...