Everyone of every age deserves to feel seen, heard and belong.
That is where the new Queer Old Souls Social event comes in.
It is an evening of gathering over woodworking for older (or older at heart) folks who identify as queer and who want to connect and create or build on a sense of community.
It is free and will be held at Create Makerspace on March 31 from 7 to 9 p.m.
"Queer Old Souls is a social evening for older adults who identify on the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum and are interested in gathering as a community," reads the event listing.
Event hosts will provide basic tips on how to safely enjoy carving wood with supplied tools.
It is free and no woodworking experience is necessary.
Jason, one of the organizers of the event, told The 麻豆社国产 that they deliberately didn't put an age cap on the evening because it is about a feeling more than an age.
"Older queer adults, I feel like is kind of an underserved community ... in terms of a sense of community or support," he said.
"We recognize the way that age can show up differently. ... We're prioritizing around older folks, but also welcoming anyone who feels like sort of an old soul—people who want to come putter and do some woodworking and have chill conversations."
Another impetus for the recurring event, he said, was to contribute to diversifying the types of people in spaces where trades take place.
"I dream of a future where more kinds of people feel they have a place in shops. Plus, making things with our hands is intrinsically healing—something all people should have access to," Jason said.
Woodworking was chosen as an activity for the Old Souls event so that it could feel inclusive for those who may not be ready to be overtly social.
"You could just show up, do a little carving, not say a word, and just listen to other people or connect in little side conversations at whatever scale feels approachable, but we thought that piece around gathering [in] a shared craft could just make it a casual space where people can participate how they want to," he said.
Jason added that this aims to be a monthly event.
See this and other events on the Create Makerspace The address is: #1-39449 Queens Way.
Please note: Due to concern about the personal safety of local 2SLGBTQIA+ and their allies, we agreed to only publish first names for this story.
