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People in drag aren’t usually a common sight at a seniors’ home. But once a month, drag queen Minhi Wang has been showing up in full makeup, wigs and heels to perform Gay Ol’ Times for residents and staff at The Gardens at Kensington Health, a long-term care home in Toronto’s downtown.
“Thank you for having me back,” Minhi Wang told the crowd at The Gardens earlier this week. “This means a lot to me…. I think it just says a lot to have an event like this — to have a drag queen perform regularly in a long-term care facility. I also think it speaks volumes about acceptance.”
Gay Ol’ Times was created in partnership with Minhi Wang as a way to foster inclusion in long-term care, educate residents and staff, and celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Check out Thursday’s show below.
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
Before her show started, Minhi Wang also said she sees it like planning for the future “because I hope that when I grow old, there will be a drag queen performing for me. (Minhi Wang is the stage name of David Shih-Ming Yao.)
“OK, let’s get this party started,” said Minhi Wang, who has been performing at The Gardens since 2017 and was a finalist in Season 5 of Canada’s Drag Race.
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
The event also included remarks from president and CEO Adil Khalfan of Kensington Health, a not-for-profit organization that offers such services as long-term care, hospice care and community care.
“The beauty of Kensington has always been about showing up to work, being who you are, looking after the people in this community and allowing them to be who they are,” Khalfan said. “Because together we are so much stronger.”
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
Others present for the performance included Anne Howard, a resident at The Gardens since 2016 and a fierce advocate and ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
(Alex Lupul/CBC)
