06/04/2026
June honours the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
For 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, a chosen name and affirmed pronoun is a deeply rooted part of who they are. Yet during serious illness, hospitalization, long term care, and even after death, these identities can be ignored, challenged, or erased.
Medical records may contain an old name. Family members may use previous pronouns. Staff may make assumptions based on appearance, legal documents, or outdated information. In some cases, years of gender affirmation can be undone in a matter of days when a person is no longer able to advocate for themselves.
The impact goes far beyond hurt feelings. Misgendering is disrespectful, and increases anxiety, creates emotional distress, damages trust with care providers, and leaves individuals feeling unseen, and undignified during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.
For families, caregivers, death doulas, hospice staff, and healthcare professionals, the solution begins with asking and respecting how someone wishes to be addressed. Using correct names and pronouns is a basic act of dignity and compassionate care.
End of life work is not just about managing symptoms. It is about honouring the whole person, their story, their relationships, their identity, and their right to be recognized as who they are.
Everyone deserves to be seen, respected, and remembered for the life they lived, not the assumptions others make about them.
Become a Death Doula today!
Ontarioschoolofenergy.com