Lockdown life is a cabaret for care home's LGBTQ+ staff in drag

Drag queen ‘Miss Bonnie’, the alter ego of a care home’s activities coordinator Paul Wilson, has been strutting about in a figure hugging, black jumpsuit to belt out some Cher songs for residents in lockdown.

When visits from entertainers at Duchess Gardens Care Centre in Bradford stopped due to the coronavirus, the care home, which has eight LGBTQ+ staff members, decided to throw a party to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ matters.

It meant life was far from dull for residents in lockdown, where staff were determined to send the message that the show must go on.

'I didn't know how they would react'

Activities coordinator Paul Wilson aka Miss Bonnie sang classic songs from Shirley Bassey, Dolly Parton, Sister Act and Cher. The war time spirit was also conjured up for residents, as Miss Bonnie wore army-style attire to rally the troops at the care home with some iconic songs.

Paul Wilson, who has worked for the company for 18 months, said: “Residents at Duchess are aware that I do drag, they were the ones which requested the show.

"I was quite apprehensive as I didn’t know how they would react. I’ve worked on activities for 30 years and never performed for the residents.

"I was shocked and overwhelmed by the response I got, each and every resident smiled from beginning to end.”

The party was the final flourish to a series of LGBTQ+ events to acknowledge staff who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Helen Lord, manager at Duchess Gardens Care Centre, which is registered to care for up to 85 residents, said: “We have a few members of the staff who are LGBTQ+ and we want to make sure they know they are loved and are part of our family.

“Paul’s Miss Bonnie performance was amazing. He has such a great range of songs, and everyone was engaged and singing along.

“I hope we’ll have some more visits from Miss Bonnie during the rest of the year.”

'Heteronormative assumption' in care homes

Staff and residents alike dressed up for the party with residents helping make a rainbow-inspired cake.

Duchess Gardens Care Centre is owned and managed by Qualia Care, which gives staff LGBTQ+ training at its care homes across the country.

A spokeswoman for Qualia Care told carehome.co.uk: “In some care homes there is a heteronormative assumption that a lady will have a husband. What the care home did was to have a month of LGBTQ+ related activities that led up to the party with a drag performance”.

’When I was young, being gay was taboo’

Resident Stanley Wood aged 77, said: “When I was young, being gay was taboo, and I think that must have made a lot of people feel sad and devalued.

“I think we’re all better off now we can talk about it openly and celebrate with each other.

“I also think any occasion where we can sing and eat cake is brilliant. I can’t wait for the next one.”