Monica Evadotter, strong lesbian woman who many years ago founded Golden Ladies who was active in RFSL Stockholm, died two days before his eightieth birthday.
She is mourned by her life partner Pia and her nieces Susanna, Marika and family, as well as by many friends within and outside the Golden Ladies.
I first met Monica in the mid-1980s when we had both become involved in RFSL Stockholm. Monica soon saw the need to highlight the older lesbian and bisexual women within the organization and started - together with RFSL's counsellor Ann Colleen - ”talk groups” for these women.
”The ”talk groups' quickly became a success - the need for older lesbians and bisexual women to come together and talk about their lives and their joys and difficulties soon became clear to many.
Monica and I, plus another woman, were elected to RFSL's board and we came to represent the association at several meetings and conferences.
For Monica, the target group was always the older lesbian and bisexual women - when RFSL moved from its old premises on Hornsgatan (Horny, for those who remember) to Huset on Sveavägen, she started a welcome group for them on disco nights so that they would also feel welcome.
Monica's own ”coming out process” was rather late; she was in her forties when she understood and embraced her sexual orientation. I never felt that this was a problem for her, rather she sometimes regretted that the realization came so late in life. But for both her and me, lesbian identity felt both natural and joyful.
A few years after the start of the ”talk groups”, Monica initiated the Golden Ladies association - an association for older lesbians and bisexual women with a focus on socializing, cafés, parties and other activities were organized.
And still organized more than thirty years later! Despite the pandemic and the fact that many ladies are getting older and less mobile than in the 1980s.
For me personally, Monica was a dear friend who approached life with much warmth and great humor! She had great empathy and never shied away from life's difficult topics, which was evident in our ”talk group”.
At one point in my life, Monica was crucial in influencing me in the right direction when I was really, really having a life crisis.
I will never forget it
Monica's tireless work on behalf of lesbians and bisexuals has had an immeasurable impact, which is reflected not least in the continued existence of the Golden Ladies - now more than thirty years after Monica started the business.
For this she also received the RFSL diploma The price of old heroes with the following justification:
The RFSL Stockholm Board has chosen to award Monica Evadotter the Old Heroes Award for her 30 years of commitment to creating meeting places for mature lesbian and bisexual women, thus drawing attention to a part of our community that is often invisible. Monica Evadotter founded the Golden Ladies Club in Stockholm in 1989 after coming out herself in her 40s, and has also helped set up local associations in other parts of the country. The Old Heroes Award is given to Monica Evadotter for being an inspiration through her tireless commitment and her welcoming attitude that it is never too late to come out.
Monica's last years were difficult, her body couldn't cope and she eventually moved to a Stockholm nursing home where she also died.
Huddinge 2022-02-20
Vibeke Bildt
If you want to support an activity in the spirit of Monica, you can donate to the Golden Ladies via plusgiro: 183 24 19-4 or Swish: 123 41 992 53.
