Few Victoria residents might expect the quiet street in front of a seniors' home to transform into a full-blown block party, giving way to Judy Garland, ABBA, Cher, and Doris Day… but that’s exactly what happened on June 18.
Now in its second year, Amica Jubilee House hosted Aging is a Drag 2, a time-travelling Pride Month celebration like no other, complete with extravagant wigs, colourful dresses, and gleaming sequins, inspired by pop culture from the '50s to the '80s.
Designed to celebrate and connect queer seniors, the hour-long show is Amica’s way of shedding light on the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, said community relations director Maxence Arignon, who also produced the event.
“This kind of entertainment is really perfect for seniors because it brings back their legends and their icons that are no longer with us,” said Arignon. “At the same time, it was an opportunity for me to bring to light those two or three gay residents that we had who maybe were not feeling so comfortable after living their entire lives with their gay community, now being almost forced to go back to high school and be with everybody else.”
Arignon, who performed as the flamboyant Anya Marx, said the event is more than just entertainment; it is an opportunity to dispel hurtful stigmas and empower others.
“Queerness is not a minority thing, it's a part of life, and we deserve to be celebrated along with every other holiday,” he said. “Doing events like this gives them permission to be here. It also starts to generate awareness that we don't have dedicated spaces for our queer elders where a gay gentleman who's in his 70s or 80s can maybe find love in a retirement home the same way a lot of our seniors do.”
First taking shape four years ago, Arignon said the event began as a one-woman show with a four-song set. This year, the Amica team went the whole nine yards with a full production complete with a cast of six queens: Vivian Vanderpuss of Canada's Drag Race fame, plus local stars Woofie, Eddi Licious, Mina Mercury, Decathlon, along with Anya Marx.
And the reception, you might ask? “Everyone loved it,” said Arignon, and Amica resident Kenneth Hunter was one of them.
“I thought it was amazing,” he said. “It was way beyond what I expected. They all could dance, and some of the songs were just very beautifully chosen.”
For Arignon, who has been part of the province’s drag circuit for the past two decades, touring B.C.’s most colourful bars, this event holds a special place in his heart.
“This is probably the most meaningful and rewarding show that I do every year, and I think a lot of the other performers feel that way as well. It really gives us a chance to do something that helps people and is for a good cause.
“We put extra love and time into this show.”
- With files from Tony Trozzo
