“I suffer a lot of loneliness, and here, they openly accept me. It’s really a warm feeling,” Ron Hewitt said. Every other week, Elder Services of Worcester sponsors the Rainbow Lunch Club for seniors. This month, the club is expanding to offer a dinner as well! Ron said he has been coming since the group started offering lunch more than three years ago. He said, for some reason, there tends to be a woman’s table and a men’s table and a mixed table if there are more than 20 people. His first time, he ended up sitting at the women’s table, since he was too shy to join the men’s table. The next time, one of the guys invited him to sit with them.

Hal Hills recalled that moment well. He was the guy that invited Ron to the men’s table. He said the lunch club has meant a lot to him. He has formed new friendships with folks he would never have met without the lunch club. He now has a group of friends he regularly invites over to his house for dinner and socializing. He regularly makes jam for his fellow lunchmates. He even makes a sugar-free version for those who don’t need the sugar.

Tanya Duvall, who was recently elected to the Southbridge School Committee, regularly attends the lunch club, as well. She proudly declares she is the oldest transgender member of the school committee. She is good friends with Charlie and Ben Labonte, who were instrumental in getting the lunch club started and make sure every meal occurs without a hitch. Charlie and Ben are married, and both have been passionate about LGBT advocacy work for many years.

Tanya said she also owes a lot to Joan Anderson, who helped Tanya come out as transgender at the age of 69! Joan and Ben are both WLEN (Worcester LGBT Elder Network) peer workers, and Charlie is their steadfast volunteer. Tanya is really looking forward to the dinner club, as well, since that will be a nice alternative. Out of her children and grandchildren, she feels lucky that only two out of 15 don’t accept her. She has friends that lost their families completely when they finally decided to live their true gender.

In full disclosure, my husband volunteers here regularly, and I have volunteered here on occasion. One of the things I worried about growing up (when I realized there was no changing my orientation) was what will happen when I am old. Of course, at that time, we didn’t know if we would even live long enough to have that experience because of the AIDS crisis.

The Rainbow Lunch Club really reminds me of all senior centers, except that I can feel the relief and sense of safety when I am here. Here, people have been through so much that they make sure everyone feels welcome. Ron said he had to do rehab at the Veterans Administration for a few weeks, and when he was finally able to come back, people genuinely said they missed him and individually asked how he was doing.

The Rainbow Lunch Club has a need for regular volunteers. In addition, the club likes to have speakers talk about various things happening in the community or teach a new skill or craft. If you want to volunteer, or know anyone who could use the social time at lunch – and starting this month, at dinner – the club would love to have you!

The Rainbow Lunch Club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and beginning Oct. 4, the Rainbow Supper Club meets the first Tuesday evening of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden St., Worcester. RSVP by the previous Wednesday to (508) 756-1545, ext. 339, or wlen@eswa.org.

Photos by John Trobaugh