Birch Street is about to sparkle.
On Wednesday (June 18) a quiet block in front of Amica Jubilee House will shut down to make way for a full-blown drag runway – complete with wigs, sequins, and performances from some of Victoria’s top queens.
Now in its second year, “Aging is a Drag 2” is a Pride Month party unlike any other in the city.
Designed specifically to celebrate queer seniors, the hour-long show is Amica’s colourful answer to a question too often ignored: where do 2SLGBTQIA+ elders fit in when it comes to visibility and celebration?
The answer, according to Amica, is right here – front and centre.
“For seniors entering retirement living, particularly those in the queer community, the need for dignity, visibility, and celebration is more vital than ever," the seniors residence said in a statement. "Aging is a Drag 2 reinforces Amica’s values of compassion and excellence and signals to the broader community that all are welcome here.”
The show will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and features a stacked lineup: Vivian Vanderpuss of Canada's Drag Race fame, plus local stars Woofie, Eddilicious, Mina Mercury, Decathlon, and Maxence Arignon.
Pride-themed snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be served.
The performances, inspired by decades from the 1950s to the 1980s, are expected to turn the block into one of Victoria’s most vibrant street parties of the month.
But for those taking the stage, it’s more than just a show.
“2SLGBTQIA+ seniors face higher rates of isolation and are often underrepresented in queer communities, which creates innate fears of embracing who they are when entering senior living facilities,” Arignon, a returning performer, said before last year's event. “This makes it crucial to emphasize why Pride matters in senior care"
It’s drag with a purpose – and for the city’s older queer residents, that purpose is long overdue.
