Marking this month’s Victorian Seniors Festival, Goldfields Libraries and Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health are hosting a free screening of the documentary ‘LGBTI Seniors Untold Histories’ in Romsey.
Directed by Noel Hourigan, the film presents stories and lived experiences of older LGBTI people living in Central Victoria and portrays how older people paved the way for changing attitudes and increased acceptance of LGBTI people today.
Mr Hourigan said that the idea for the film started from his desire to record elders’ voices and present the struggles of older LGBTI people in driving change for the next generations.
“At the end of the film, I do get the participants to have a message for the youth. So, it’s … semi-educational but also to let the youth know that a lot of it has come on the back of our elders and the elders are there to support them as well,” Mr Hourigan said.
Mr Hourigan said that the film screening also coincides with World Mental Health Day.
“There are themes throughout the film, things like how important it is to come out and accept yourself, and all of those sorts of things that ultimately are there for your mental health,” he said.
“When we did come out in those days in the … ‘70s, ‘80s – you were basically considered a sex offender … for the men … if you were gay, you were automatically classed as a paedophile. So, that sort of struggle with coming out and being out severely impacts your mental health.”
The film will be screened on Thursday, October 10 from 2pm–4pm at Romsey Library.
Entry is free but registration is required.
Details: www.sunburycobaw.org.au/lgbti-seniors-untold-histories
