Death and dying aren't often talked about, but they touch us all. Following a two successful LGBTQIA+ Death Cafe LGBT Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation and All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care wish to invite you to again have a Chat with Strangers so you can start thinking ahead and reflect on what death, dying and loss means to you.
Talking about these issues with our friends, partners and loved ones can be difficult, but by taking the time to have these conversations when we are at ease and are not in crisis or under pressure, we can make the final stages of life easier to live through.
Nobody should ever feel the need to hide something important about who they are. This LGBTQIA+ focused death cafe invites the LGBTQIA+ community and allies alike to share our experiences and discuss any and all subjects around this universal life experience.
No individual member of this community is defined by their membership in it. Sexual orientation and gender identity is just one aspect of the whole person. However, LGBTQ+ have often lived lives filled with unique challenges and blessings, experiencing a history of oppression and struggling for acceptance and respect which can lead to both resilience and grievance.
We hope these conversations will help you to acknowledge that dying and death are part of life, recognise that talking about death doesn’t bring it closer, but it can help us plan for life and choose the right time and place to talk with our loved ones. Do you have a will ready? Do you know where you would like to receive care at end of life? Have you thought about body and organ donations? Let’s chat about these things together.
This project is supported by the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund 2023
