In this episode of Older Queer Voices, we explore a powerful story of courage, injustice, and change. For decades, LGBT people were banned from serving in the UK armed forces many were arrested, discharged, or stripped of their medals simply for being who they were. Our guests, Emma Riley and Catherine Dixon, are two remarkable veterans who have dedicated their lives to fighting for justice and recognition for those affected by this cruel policy. Catherine (Cat) Dixon is an experienced CEO, solicitor, mediator, and a world record holder. Cat is currently the CEO of UKSA and has served as the CEO of the Law Society of England and Wales, NHS Resolution, a University College and CIARB(Chartered Institute of Arbitrators), and has held General Counsel and legal director roles at NSPCC and BUPA. Cat began her career as a solicitor and has been a trustee on various boards, including Stonewall as its Chair, CEDR, Law Works, the PDSA, QC (KC) and Judicial Appointments. Cat was an officer in the British Army and holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe on a tandem bicycle which she set in 2020. Emma Riley served in the Royal Navy but was arrested and discharged for being gay in 1993 She took her case to the European Court of Human Rights helping to change UK law in 2000. She is currently appointed to the independent panel for the LGBT Veterans Financial Recognition Scheme. Link Below: Financial Recognition Scheme for anyone that would like to apply

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps

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Marriage equality was a turning point; it gave our relationships the dignity and recognition we had fought for. But what happens when those relationships end?
What does love look like when the law is involved and what does letting go mean
for queer people who have built lives, families, and histories together? We talked love,
law, and loss with Barrister Rachel Cooper , a specialist in LGBTQ+ family law,
and Podcaster/Author Rosie Wilby, Podcast Host and Author of Is Monogamy Dead?’
and ‘The Breakup Monologues’, exploring how we heal and reinvent ourselves through
endings. 'The Break up Monologues' by Rosie Wilby available
HERE

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In this Episode Amanda Currie brings over 20 years of distinguished service within the UK Prison Service, where she played a pivotal role in advancing equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ staff and prisoners alike.

As an active member of GALIPS (Gay and Lesbians in the Prison Service), Amanda designed and delivered nationwide awareness sessions and talks aimed at enhancing senior management and staff understanding of LGBTQ+ issues and the unique challenges faced by the community within the prison environment.

Amanda Currie’s story reminds us that our queer elders have lived full, complex, and courageous lives, often in spaces where their very identity was unwelcome. From the prison system to positions of leadership, these voices carry lessons of resilience, inclusion, and authenticity that our workplaces and communities need to hear today.
This is not just about prisons. It’s about leading with courage in hostile environments, breaking barriers in male-dominated systems, and showing that our older queer community holds wisdom and strength that can inspire generations to come.

Management Lessons from Amanda Currie’s session.
Leading in a System Built on Control
Lead with Empathy, Even When the System Doesn’t
In spaces defined by rules and authority, empathy becomes a quiet act of rebellion.
Authenticity is Power, Not a Risk
Stepping into a male-dominated space as a queer woman requires courage but authenticity becomes the most powerful leadership tool.
Allyship Can Come from Unexpected Places
Even in harsh systems, moments of kindness and solidarity emerge. Great leaders recognise and nurture those sparks, they understand that cultural transformation often starts with one act of allyship at a time.
Inclusion is Not Policy - It’s Daily Practice
Navigating a workplace where identity shapes perception teaches that inclusion cannot be a checkbox exercise. It’s the daily choices; how we listen, respect difference, and create visibility for the marginalised, that build real equity.
Queer Leadership Brings a Unique Lens to Justice and Humanity
Being queer in a system that wasn’t built for you offers deep insights into resilience, fairness, and vulnerability. Those experiences shape a leadership style grounded in inclusion and justice; qualities every modern organisation needs to thrive.

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There was a lot of heartbreak, a lot of pain, a lot of fights, a lot of insecurities", shares Gurleen Arora with Raga Olga D'silva as she talks about her marriage breakdown, her coming Out journey and her current relationship with her same-gender partner.

A Views Room Presentation

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Grief and loss are universal experiences but for older LGBTQ+ people, they often come with added layers; of invisibility, of complex family structures, of having lived through decades of stigma, and of watching chosen families slowly fade without recognition or ritual.

This episode of Older Queer Voices is a space to explore how grief shows up in our lives and our communities not just through bereavement, but also through isolation, displacement, and the loss of cultural memory. We are joined by Simon Blake, CEO, Stonewall, and Rachel Bret, CEO, Sussex Beacon, to reflect on personal and professional experiences of grief, dying, loss, and to discuss the early vision for a new LGBTQ+ inclusive hospice being developed in Brighton.

Simon Blake: Chief Executive - LGBTQ+ charity, Stonewall. Simon is also a Non-Executive Director of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Simon believes we would benefit from a more open culture about death, dying and bereavement.

Rachel Brett: CEO - Sussex Beacon - the first LGBTQ+ Hospice, Brighton

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In this episode of Older Queer Voices, we turn our attention to Section 28, a piece of UK legislation that shaped the lives of LGBTQ+ people for over 15 years. Enacted by Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1988, Section 28 banned local authorities and schools from “promoting homosexuality,” a vague and chilling mandate that stifled support, erased representation, and instilled a culture of fear.

Though it was repealed in 2003, its impact still reverberates through the memories, traumas, and silences of a generation.

We are joined by two guests with deep knowledge and lived experience from this time:

Professor Emeritus Sanders – Co-founder of Schools OUT UK and LGBT+ History Month
John Vincent – A leading voice in libraries, equality, and inclusion

Together, we unpack the lasting legacy of Section 28, its effects on schools, libraries, educators, families, and LGBTQ+ youth—and ask what it means in today’s climate. With rising hostility toward trans people and controversial moves by institutions like the EHRC, are we seeing echoes of Section 28 again?
Watch, reflect, and share, these stories matter.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to help amplify older queer voices.

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South Asian Queer Voices

Older Queer Voices | Breaking Taboos in South Asian Homes: Mental Health, Care & Queer Futures

In many South Asian households, we are taught to stay silent about the things that hurt us most; mental health, domestic and elder abuse in our homes and even the idea of putting our aging parents in care homes. These conversations are often buried under the weight of “log kya kahenge?” (What will people say?), even when silence comes at the cost of safety, wellbeing, and dignity.

In this episode, we break that silence.

We explore what it means to confront these taboos as older queer South Asians, and ask: How do we build futures where we can age with care, connection, and pride?

We speak about:

· The stigma around mental health in our communities

· Hidden cycles of domestic and elder abuse

· The trauma of conversion practices

· Guilt and shame around formal care for elders

· And how we can future-proof our own lives as queer elders

Our guests bring wisdom and lived experience to this vital conversation:

🌟 Rita Hirani – Social entrepreneur and co-founder of Club Kali. A long-time changemaker, Rita’s “gay jobs” include rescuing charities and serving as a strategic adviser and former CEO of MindOut.

🌟 Saba Ali – Safety and MET Liaison Manager for UK Black Pride. A passionate advocate and community leader, Saba was recently named Role Model of the Year at the Diva Awards.

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This conversation is a truly special one. It’s about love, family, identity, and the realities of growing older as queer people.

I am joined by Dr. Jack López, a gay trans man, proud birth parent of four children from his first relationship and his current partner, Dr Iain Armstrong, a gay cis man.

Together, they bring us a deeply personal and insightful conversation on the complexities of family, identity, and love.

They also bring an important perspective on what it means to age as a couple within our community, to navigate love later in life, and to think ahead practically, about healthcare, care homes, legal protections, and how we make sure we are seen, respected, and cared for as we get older.

This conversation isn’t just about being trans or gay, it’s about being human, about how we create family, how we love, and how we make space for the fullness of who we are as we age.

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