PLANNING FOR ACTION LGBTI RELEVANT & INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL SUPPORT & ACTIVITY PROGRAMS BACKGROUND In mainstream social support and activity programs for older people, services aim to provide a range of activities to meet the needs of an often diverse range of participants. In order to provide a welcoming environment for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, services need to provide some activities that can demonstrate welcome and relevance. While not all older LGBTI people will be out to the service, the provision of LGBTI relevant and inclusive activities are a visible and meaningful message of welcome and inclusion to LGBTI participants. This resource includes a range of possible activities and resources that could be included in a mainstream program that will be of interest to not only many older LGBTI people but mainstream service users too. Of course, there are likely to be much more content that is relevant and inviting, so undertake some research and seek ideas from participants through consultation and feedback, and any other ways your service plans and develops your program FESTIVALS There are a range of Victorian LGBTI specific festivals including some of the regional festivals – of course everyone can attend so consider scheduling a trip or session in your program. Most have a range of activities – events, arts, film and theatre more: Event Details Midsumma Festival a range of activities and festivities including Midsumma Carnival and Pride March, and an (Jan‐Feb) entire arts program https://www.midsumma.org.au/ Chill Out Festival Australia’s longest running and largest regional pride festival, Daylesford Victoria (March) https://www.chilloutfestival.com.au/ Melbourne Queer now in its 30th year – a diverse program spread over nearly 2 weeks with short, Film Festival (March) documentary and feature films screening at a range of venues across Melbourne https://mqff.com.au/ Bendigo Pride is a community initiated that celebrates, explores and promotes diversity and inclusion (March‐April) within The Greater Bendigo Region and beyond with particular focus on LGBTIQA+ communities and people. https://www.bendigopridefestival.com.au/ and includes Bendigo Queer Film Festival http://www.bendigoqueerfilmfestival.com.au/ & Queer Country Arts Festival Geelong Pride Film includes a full session showcasing short film about LGBTI elders and pioneers Festival (March‐April) http://gpff.ferve.tickets/ Out in the Open The Goulburn Valley’s Pride festival, Out in the Open is a celebration of the LGBTIQA+ (October‐November) community including performances, dining experiences, education opportunities, tours and sharing all wrapped up in a fun festival experience. http://outintheopen.org.au/ CREATIVE ARTS Creative arts have long been a platform for creativity, activism and more, and a celebration of LGBTI identities. There is often a range of programs and activities through some of the key festivals (above) as well as some specific arts organisations, performers and exhibitions. Consider including some of these activities in your program, or think about how you might create your own initiative: Arts organisations: All the Queens Men (ATQM) is an independent, award winning arts organisation that is a leading creative voice within the LGBTI+ community nationally and internationally, most specifically for championing the rights of LGBTI+ elders. The Company’s practice, expressed through projects such as The Coming Back Out Ball, LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club and Rainbow Reviews, enables LGBTI+ communities improved access, not only to arts experiences, but to broader community health and social services. Exhibitions Keep an eye out for exhibitions and arts opportunities that celebrate diversity including sexual and gender diversity. An example of such an exhibition is the current NGV exhibition – Crossing Lines ‐ Keith Haring and Jean‐Michel Basquiat. Perhaps include a visit in your program and use the opportunity to create conversations about diversity and welcome. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ Performers and events If you are considering performers for your program or events, consider some content that celebrates LGBTI people and their lives. Perhaps have some drag bingo, a singer, some LGBTI content in trivia and more. Again think celebration and be creative. Perhaps consider a guest speaker. GUEST SPEAKERS If you have events that involve guest speakers consider having someone come and talk to your program. Here are some ideas: Speaker/Organisation Details Out & About Switchboard Victoria’s Out and About Program provides a free community visitors (Switchboard) program for older LGBTI people. Contact them to find out more and perhaps to come and talk to your group to help spread the word about this important program www.switchboard.org.au/out‐about Senior Voices The Senior Voices project trains and supports people living with HIV, aged 50+ to share Living Positive Victoria their stories with aged care workers and providers to help challenge negative stereotypes, raise awareness about growing older with HIV, and combat stigma and discrimination. Contact Living positive Victoria https://livingpositivevictoria.org.au/ ENTERTAINMENT There are a multitude of both mainstream and arthouse movies and television shows that you could show in your program. Many activity programs for older adults screen films and television show, particularly in the colder months. Here are a range you could consider showing, although there are many, many more: Movies: Cloudburst, Gen Silent, Intersexions, Love Simon, Carol, Brokeback Mountain, Pride, The Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert, Untold Histories LGBTI Seniors, The Coming Back Out Ball The Movie, Becoming Colleen, Love is Strange, A Single Man, Holding the Man, Harvey Milk, Philadelphia, La Cage Aux Folles, The Christine Jorgenson Story, If These Walls Could Talk 2, Green Book, Far From Heaven, Desert Hearts, The Color Purple. TV shows: Grace and Frankie, Will and Grace, Pose, Tales of the City, Transparent, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Queer Eye. LITERATURE – BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS Does your program have a collection of books on offer, or do you borrow books from your local library for participants? If so, add some fiction, biographies and maybe some coffee table books with LGBTI themes etc. Here are a few to consider: Books Holding the Man (Timothy Conigrave), Another Country (James Baldwin), The Color Purple (Alice Walker), Orlando (Virginia Wolf), Middle Sex (Jeffery Eugenides), Tales of the City ( Armistead Maupin), Orange are not the Only Fruit (Jeanette Winterson), Ellen DeGeneres (Biography), Redefining Realness (Janet Mock), The Trauma Cleaner (Sandra Pankhurst), Southern Discomfort (Tena Clark) to name a few. Consider an outing to Melbourne’s LGBTI Bookshop Hares & Hyena’s https://www.hares‐hyenas.com.au/ Located at 63 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, Hare & Hyenas is a wheelchair accessible (and wheelchair accessible bathrooms) bookshop, café and performance venue. A great place to visit for an afternoon! News/Magazines A great way to send a message of welcome and provide an inclusive, relevant and responsive environment is to subscribe to LGBTI community news publications. The Star Observer is a free publication with lots of information relevant to different ages and communities, and it is delivered to your venue. Go to www.starobserver.com.au for more information. Lesbians on the Loose (LOTL) Australia’s only LGBT Women’s quarterly print magazine running since 1990. Subscribe here: https://subscribe.lotl.com/index.aspx Both of these publications are a great way to keep in touch with festival, events, literature, and more to include in your program. Sign up to their e‐news too. Also, many of the festivals have printed programs, contact them and have some sent out to your program. RADIO Do you have the radio on during your centre activities? Perhaps consider tuning into JOY FM 94.9 (Melbourne) or see if there is a regional program if you are out of Melbourne. Do you want to spread the word about your LGBTI inclusive program or activities to LGBTI communities? Contact JOY FM about a community services announcement, another way of providing a message of welcome – you just don’t know who is listening! JOY FM also lists a range of activities and events so visit their website: https://joy.org.au/ OUTINGS History ‐ ALGA The Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives (ALGA) from time to time host history walks, exhibitions, talks, and more. ALGA is the biggest repository of historical materials about LGBTIQ experience in Australia. The Archives was established in 1978. It is a volunteer, community‐based organisation. For more information https://alga.org.au/ AIDS Memorial Garden Fairfield The AIDS Memorial Garden is managed in partnership with Thorne Harbour Health (formerly VAC), and Melbourne Polytechnic. Melbourne Polytechnic is located on the site of the former Fairfield Hospital. Fairfield Hospital was in its last decade notable for treating patients living with HIV. Thirty years ago, a memorial garden was established at the hospital. Visitors can access the garden during business hours Monday to Friday and should present at the Gatehouse on Yarra Bend Road Fairfield for directions etc. or call Melbourne Polytechnic (03) 9269 1200 LGBTI friendly or community venues If your program goes out for lunch, consider an LGBTI community or friendly venue. Look in the LGBTI press or directories such as that on the Victorian Pride Centre website. https://pridecentre.org.au/ DAYS