Rosalind and Elena (Photo: Jamie Wareham)
Older LGBTI voices give advice and swap stories with younger people in a series of videos produced in conjunction with Gay Star News and Age UK for Digital Pride.
In the short conversations, screening on social media during the 2018 Digital Pride festival, eight individuals are brought together to share their experiences.
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Gordon and Patrick talk about how different generations of gay people engage with one another and how hard it was to come out in decades past. They also talk about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, and Gordon recounts the pain of losing a former partner to AIDS.
Alex, who works in marketing, talks with Michael from Covent Garden’s Hospital Club about the changing gay scene and the importance of gay bars.
Nikki, a young trans woman, talks with Margaret about living an open and authentic life in a world that’s not always welcoming or friendly. They also talk about when they first realized they were trans.
And Rosalind and Elena talk about about labels and why many younger people are eschewing them.
Opening Doors London
Some of the older participants are members of Opening Doors London, the groundbreaking project originally launched by Age UK Camden for LGBTI Londoners over 50. The organization has grown to include dozens of monthly social events and a befriending service that offers support to older communities. ODL now operates as its own charity and continues to grow.
Jamie Wareham, Editor of the Young Voices section of Gay Star News said: ‘There are not many spaces in which younger and older generations can swap stories or experiences.
‘However, both have valuable insights to offer and, when given the opportunity to engage, often find much common ground. It was great to bring just a few such individuals together for Digital Pride.’
