Driving You Mad, Driving You Crazy

12 Oct 2018

INTERVIEW: Bec Reid & Elisabeth Bridson on the Coming Back Out Ball on 25th October

Arts, Community, Dance, Interview, Music

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The Coming Back Out Ball is a spectacular social event celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Gender Diverse and Intersex elders and David and Sue talk to Bec Reid & Elisabeth Bridson about the Coming Back Out Ball which is back on for 2018 at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday 25th October from 6pm. So if you missed it last year, have seen the movie or just want to experience it again you can get tickets from the Coming Back Out Ball website or at Try Bookings website

Here’s some info about the event and the concept:

The Coming Back Out Ball 2018 will be presented on Thursday 25 October. Hosted by Tristan Meecham, the event will be presented at the Melbourne Town Hall as a premiere event of the Victorian Seniors Festival in association with the Val’s LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care.

Created and produced by All The Queens Men, this night-of-nights blended showbiz bells and whistles, community celebration, heartfelt story telling, dinner and dancing. Headline performers include: Briefs: Close Encounters, Electric Fields and Meow Meow with event direction by Cameron Menzies.

The Coming Back Out Ball was inspired  by research revealing that some LGBTI elders conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity when they access aged care services – because they believe they are not safe. With so much change over the course  of their lifetime, some LGBTI elders have lived through a period when being LGBTI could result in imprisonment, enforced medical ‘cures’, loss of employment and rejection by family and friends. For this generation, the first to fight for equality, impending old age may mean going back into the closet, or the risk of being deprived companionship or quality care when they need it most.

But there is hope for the older LGTBI community – the Victorian Government has expunged gay convictions and apologised to older gay men for the treatment they received; aged care service providers are embracing strategies to become more LGBTI inclusive; and Victoria will soon create Australia’s first LGBTI Pride Centre. The Coming Back Out Ball augments research and social services – it’s a public celebration and declaration to LGBTI elders of their worth and value, acknowledging their rich lived experiences.

The long-term vision is that The Coming Back Out Ball becomes a regular adored event on Melbourne’s social calendar; understood for its inclusivity and cultural significance.