Luminate Festival: ‘Return to the Closet?’

Luminate and LGBT Health and Wellbeing have collaborated with filmmaker Glenda Rome and with older community members, to produce a short community-led film exploring issues around care for older LGBT+ people.

‘Return to the Closet?’ will be screened on the opening day of the Luminate Festival, 1st May, at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.

The film is the culmination of an eight month project in which members of LGBT Health and Wellbeing’s Age Project reflected on their knowledge and experiences of the care sector. In the film, they discuss their feelings around ageing and needing more support from care providers – in particular, will more engagement with services in later life mean having to ‘Return to the Closet?’ Glenda Rome collaborated with the group in the making of their film, including teaching filmmaking skills from interview techniques to editing.

Having lived though less liberal times which involved hiding their identity in different spheres of life, the film captures the ways in which a shared history of stigma and discrimination and the perception of non-LGBT+ inclusive care settings come together to give older LGBT+ people grave concerns about what care will look like for them.

Derek Anderson, who appears in the film, said: “We want this film to raise awareness about the care needs of older LGBT+ people, and to open up the conversations which will help our care needs be met. The idea of going into care can be daunting for anyone. We’ve lived through much less understanding times and we carry the impact of that with us. If we don’t feel welcomed as our authentic selves, this can be a real barrier to health. It’s so important that care providers deliver inclusive services where all older people can be their full selves and live healthy lives.”

Anne Gallacher, Director of Luminate, said: “Luminate’s creative work gives voice to older people’s views, hopes and dreams. Our collaboration with LGBT Health & Wellbeing has supported older LGBTI+ people to share their experience as part of a creative project, and to learn a range of documentary-making skills along the way. The group’s film is a thoughtprovoking exploration of their hopes and concerns for the future. I hope ‘Return to the Closet?’ will prompt discussion of the issues around care that the film raises, as it is important that our care services meet the needs of all older people.”

The complete Luminate Festival brochure can be download at www.luminatescotland.org.