MEDIA RELEASE | 1 FEBRUARY 2019 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
LGBTI SENIORS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES OF LIFE AND LOVE
Stories of life and love from rainbow seniors across NSW will be celebrated at a free LGBTI community event in Petersham this month, part of NSW Seniors Festival.
LOVE Stories – on Saturday 9 February at Petersham Town Hall – invites LGBTI seniors and their friends to come together and share their unique personal stories. Running from 9.30am to 4pm, the day will feature a range of activities including short-story, song and poetry writing, life drawing and musical performances. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore their creative talents and share their stories throughout the day.
LOVE Stories is presented by NSW’s leading LGBTI health organisation, ACON, and is produced by its healthy ageing initiative, the LOVE Project (Living Older Visibly Engaged). Formed in 2013, the LOVE Project aims to create better conversations and improve social engagement with older members of LGBTI communities.
Acting ACON CEO Karen Price said LOVE Stories is a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the diversity, strength and resilience of rainbow seniors through creative story telling.
“NSW has a significant older LGBTI population. In fact, over 100,000 people in NSW over the age of 55 identify as LGBTI and they play a vital and valued role in our community,” Price said. “But a lifetime of discrimination and victimisation can impact heavily on mental health which, along with issues related to social exclusion, loneliness and financial concerns, are all issues that can impact on older LGBTI people’s quality of life.
“Events such as LOVE Stories allows mature members of our communities to come together in a welcoming, safe and supportive environment, where they can share amazing stories and help reduce the social isolation that many others may experience,” Price said.
LOVE Stories will be hosted by broadcaster Julie McCrossin AO and will feature artist Guy James Whitworth, writer Ellen van Neerven and musician Jeremy Brennan. LOVE Stories is supported by the NSW Seniors Festival and the Aurora Group.
“We’re delighted as always to have the support of our partners, which allows us to put on events where we can celebrate the contributions of LGBTI seniors.
“Events like LOVE Stories provide the perfect opportunity to connect, relax and enjoy the community. We thank the NSW Seniors Festival and the Aurora Group for continuing to support the older LGBTI community. We look forward to working more closely with a range of government and community organisations to help provide more opportunities for older LGBTI people in NSW.”
LOVE Stories is on Saturday 9 February at Petersham Town Hall, running from 9:30am to 4pm. Organisers ask that attendees bring along an item that reflects love for them. To register or for any enquiries, visit www.acon.org.au/lovestories or contact Russ Gluyas on
