WATCH: Curtain comes down on Parklands Pride event for Highland care home residents
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The curtain has come down on Parklands Pride as drag queens Miss Lossie Mouth and Venus Guytrap took to the stage for the last time, marking the end of an unforgettable experience for residents and staff.
Innis Mhor care home in Tain played hosted to the finale of Parklands Pride, billed as a celebration of life and love.
As the Ross-shire Journal reported last week, over the course of three weeks hundreds of residents, relatives and staff at care homes run by Parklands were treated to an 80-minute musical extravaganza featuring hits from iconic artists such as Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Stevie Wonder, Shirley Bassey and Frank Sinatra, among others.
As well as Tain, Parklands Pride events were held in Fortrose, Muir of Ord, Grantown and Aberlour.
Donald Morrison, communications director for Parklands Care Homes, said: “Parklands Pride has been amazing fun for residents and staff. We’ve never hosted an event like this before and the response from our homes has been fantastic.
"We’d like to thank Miss Lossie Mouth and Venus Guytrap for entertaining us over the past few weeks; it’s an experience we won’t ever forget, and we hope it has sent a message to the LGBTQ+ community within the Parklands family and across the wider community that we stand with them.”
John Campbell, who performs as Miss Lossie Mouth, said: “To be part of this event is really unique for me.
"I never thought in my life I'd be performing in a care home, but what an amazing opportunity. So much warmth, so much fun and the audience were receptive, it was brilliant.
"Congratulations to Parklands for giving that visibility to the LGBTQ+ community.”
Darryl Alexander Geegan, who performs as Venus Guytrap, added: “I've worked in care for many years myself and I've seen what the sector’s like, particularly after Covid. They have struggled to bounce back with things like activities for residents, so to be doing something like this is just phenomenal and I was so grateful to be asked.”
As well as hosting Parklands Pride, Parklands Care Homes will this year sponsor Highland Pride and Pride in Moray.
