Gallery of Memories

Challenge Egale’s Gallery of Memories highlighted a critical but overlooked issue: the need for inclusive dementia care for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. Older queer adults face higher risks of cognitive decline due to chronic stress, yet their unique needs are often ignored in healthcare settings. Many have spent their lives hiding their identities due to discrimination, and when they enter care facilities or seek medical support, they may feel pressured to return to the closet, losing not only their memories but also their sense of self.

INSIGHTS For many queer seniors, memory loss is more than a personal struggle—it’s a threat to the collective history of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. When these elders lose their memories, an entire generation’s lived experiences, struggles, and victories risk being forgotten. This campaign was built on three key pillars to preserve queer memories and advocate for better dementia care: Authenticity, Immersion and Amplification.

IDEA The Gallery of Memories was an audio-first campaign that preserved, amplified, and shared the voices of queer elders experiencing cognitive decline. Stories of 10 queer individuals across Canada were transformed into an interactive gallery experience, allowing listeners to feel as if they were experiencing these moments first hand. After debuting during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Jann Arden, a Juno Award-winning Canadian musician and LGBTQ+ ally, joined the campaign by contributing a foreword to an audiobook version of the project. This campaign was about creating a lasting impact, giving queer seniors the recognition they deserve, and inspiring conversations about the need for inclusive dementia care.