Seniors celebrate PRIDE Month at Vi at La Jolla Village

In celebration of PRIDE Month this June, Vi at La Jolla Village, hosted a month-long series of events honoring LGBTQ+ culture and history — kicking off with a special screening of the 1996 classic The Birdcage. This joyful, heartwarming event featured a post-screening discussion with our very own resident: Academy Award-winner Roy Helland, who had a walk-on part in the film.

A post-film discussion was led by Andy Friedenberg, founder of the Cinema Society of San Diego and Vi resident Roy Helland. Helland was responsible for the film’s hair and makeup design and had an on-screen role. He won an Academy Award in 2012 for his work on The Iron Lady starring Meryl Streep. Helland will share his memories of the film, its stellar cast and discuss how it impacted the LGBTQ+ community. This and other Pride Month events were organized by Vi residents with support from community management.

Vi hosted three additional Pride Month events during June:

• June 10 at 3:00 p.m. PFLAG - Educating and Strengthening San Diego Families. Presentation and discussion on supporting families with LGBTQ+ loved ones.
• June 19 at 2:00 p.m. The Wedding Cake - Vi hosted a staged reading of the play, directed and performed by Vi residents. The Wedding Cake was written by the late Lee Sarokin, a former Vi resident and Federal Judge. It is about a baker who refuses to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
• June 27 at 3:00 p.m. My Career on Capitol Hill - A gay Vi resident who worked on Capitol Hill for 30 yrs discussed his government career and the evolution of how LGBTQ+ issues were viewed by legislators and the public.

About Vi: Headquartered in Chicago, Vi Senior Living operates 10 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) across the United States. Blending the best of a five-star resort lifestyle with senior living, Vi communities provide residents with independent living as well as a continuum of care on-site, including assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing should the need arise. With more than 30 years of experience as the owner and operator of residential communities for older adults, Vi continues to work toward providing quality environments, services, and programs to enrich the lives of those they serve.