LGBTQ+ Widowed

Love After Loss

Moderators: Holly Wagg & Sean Boileau

Can you imagine yourself on a date? Do you even want to start dating again? What will your family and friends say when you decide to start dating again? Does it matter? What happens if you start dating and it doesn’t work out? What are your best hopes and worst fears about falling in love again? Join us for a panel discussion where you can hear from couples navigating these issues.

Disenfranchised Grief

This workshop is for those who have lost partners who weren’t legally married, and/or whose relationships were not known and/or recognized by others. We will discuss the many ways that this ‘invisible bereavement’ affects our grief experience and our ability to get support as we move through our grief. It will also provide a safe space for people to discuss the loss of their partner while in non-traditional relationships such as open, polyamorous, asexual, or others. From legal complications to family matters, invisible bereavement adds layers of pain to loss.

Keynote Address

Join Soaring Spirits International Founder & CEO, Michele Neff Hernandez, for our keynote address.

Widowed and Male: A Panel Conversation for Widowers

Moderator: Greg Mais

This workshop is focused on the needs of our widowers, and offered just for the men at camp. We will explore a variety of topics relating to being male and widowed. What are the challenges widowers face that are unique to the men in our group? How do you handle the people in your life who want to quickly connect you with a new partner? Have you been told you are grieving too long or too much? No topic is off-limits, and your thoughts, comments, and questions are welcome.

After Loss: My Search for Meaning and Purpose

The search for meaning and purpose in existence is a lifelong pursuit. After the loss of a spouse, perspective can change. We question the things we had taken for granted. Join me as I explore my journey to finding new meaning in the present, rediscovering hope and purpose within my loss, and forging a viable path for the years ahead.

Finding Your Family in the LGBTQ+ Community

Moderator: Bobby Moss

This workshop will offer support for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer community and consists of small group discussions among those with similar situations. Through a series of rotations, you will find others who you share parts of your unique grief with such as type of loss, time in grief, and type of relationship. The exact number of rotations will be determined by the number of participants on the day of the workshop.