Why we walk with PRIDE: Ending Alzheimer's for all

"June is busting out all over!" As the old song goes, there is so much to be excited for this month.

First and foremost, it’s LGBTQIA+ Pride Month—a time to celebrate identities that perhaps didn't fit into the boxes we were handed growing up. While the journey isn't always easy, we can now walk with pride in who we are and celebrate how we have persisted in spite of hate and discrimination. June is a time for community; a moment to refresh and refuel so we can continue to resist erasure and push for true visibility.

But June is also Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. This gives us a vital public forum to talk about brain health, ongoing research, and the programming designed to support people living with dementia and their loved ones. By working together, we hope that one day we can finally say we ended Alzheimer's.

It's Personal—and Professional

For me, June represents a beautiful intersection. I love my queer community, and I have also spent many years working alongside people living with dementia and their care partners. Throughout my career, I have been deeply passionate about finding ways to better support and protect our LGBTQ+ older adults who are experiencing cognitive changes that impact their daily reality.

This work is deeply personal. My grandma Dorothy sadly developed dementia, which took her from us over a decade ago.

Losing someone to dementia is an ambiguous loss—the grief takes hold while the person is still living and breathing right in front of you. When their final passing comes, it is accompanied by a complex storm of both relief and sadness. This lived experience is a primary reason why my practice focuses heavily on grief and loss, especially these complex, non-linear losses.

My mind frequently turns to the many patients and clients I have served in various medical settings. Each holds a special place in my heart. I think of the family members, friends, and healthcare providers who cared for them, and I feel immense gratitude for the meaning I've found in being there to support them.

Adapting and Fighting for a Different Tomorrow

What I know from my training and experience as a geropsychologist is that a dementia diagnosis, while difficult, does not spell an immediate end to joy, connection, and meaning. This goes for the individual and for those who love them. As the condition progresses, we can learn to adapt, relate differently, and deeply cherish the small moments.

That is why support resources are so vital, and why the Alzheimer's Association has long been an important hub of information, support groups, and groundbreaking research. Their recently published 2026 data underscores exactly why this work matters so much right now:

• Disease Impact: More people die from Alzheimer's disease than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

• 1 in 3 Older Adults dies with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia as part of their health picture.

• The Caregiver Impact: Almost 13 million people in the United States are currently acting as caregivers for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia.

Furthermore, research shows that LGBTQ+ individuals have an elevated risk for developing dementia. (In a future post, I’ll dive into why this is the case and what we can do about it.) LGBTQ+ caregivers also experience unique stresses and have need for affirmative, personalized support.

While these numbers are alarming, my hope is that they speed us to action. That is why this year I am proud to partner with the Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer's this October. Because 96% of funds raised go directly toward research and programming, donations go an incredibly long way in supporting a better future for everyone with a brain.

Walk with Me and Donate

If you want to move from awareness to action, here is how you can help:

• Join My Team: Sign up with Proud Heart Therapy & Friends and walk with me on 10/03/2026 if you live in southeastern Wisconsin! (If you live elsewhere, you can find a Walk near you here.)

  
  

• Make a Donation: Help me reach my fundraising goal by making a contribution to my team Walk Page here.

Your support means the world to me. Together, we can end Alzheimer's and all other dementias.

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For the whole month of June, I'll be writing about how dementia and cognitive health impact the lives of LGBTQ+ people. Subscribe and share with someone who might need to read this today.