March 23, 2009 - Melbourne Queer Film Festival - Out Late

Directed: Beatrice Alda & Jennifer Brooke, USA/Canada - video 62 minutes

Out Late introduces five individuals who made a decisive chenge later in life, to come out as lesbian, gay or transgender, after the age of 55. Why did they wait until their 50s, 60s, or 70s to come out? And what was the turning point that caused each of these people finally to openly declare their sexuality?

From Canada to Kansas, we find out what ultimately led these dynamic individuals to make their liberating choice to pursue fully integrated lives.

Queer Seniors Panel

The MQFF (Melbourne Queer Film Festival) and {also} are pleased to co-present this documentary and panel session which will highlight issues relative to the lives of contemporary queer seniors in Victoria.

The panel will also discuss the recent changes to the Federal legislation and how these changes will affect same-sex relationships with the possibility of increased pressure on our older queer community, and the responsibility of the younger queer community to understand and respond to our queer seniors.

Panellists

Gary Ferguson is the Community Education Officer with Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV), which is the community legal service addressing elder abuse in the community. Gary's role  is to raise public awareness and deliver community education to senior Victorians over the age of 60.

Sally Goldner has been out of the gender closet for just over 13 years and an active participant in Melbourne's queer community for the last ten. Outside of the community, she is an accountant specialising in the not-for-profit sector.

Catherine Barrett is a researcher who has worked with aged care service providers to promote the sexual and sensual needs of clients, including the development of education programs, policies and guidelines for practice.

Catherine has explored the processes of change while working as a Consultant with the National Ageing Research Institute and as a quality assessor with the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency and in her PHD thesis. Her recent project work has included 'My People: Determining Strategies to improve the care of GLBTI seniors in aged care services' a project of the Matrix Guild and Vintage Men.

To book for this event please go to the MQFF box office page mqff.com.au

Starts: Sunday 22nd March at 12:00 pm

Ends: Sunday 22nd March

Location: ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) Federation Square, Melbourne, Melways 1B, P10