BOLD: Stories from older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people

by David Hardy

More than 50 older LGBTI people share their stories and images - of first love and family, of struggle and defiance and resistance and pride. They include prominent Australian activists including Bob Brown, Sally Goldner and the Hon. Michael Kirby. Many of the stories are by ordinary and extraordinary people who may be Indigenous, born overseas, or live in cities or small towns across Australia, New Zealand, UK, US and Ireland. David Hardy presents diverse stories to unsilence lives and put them in print. They add to the history of the LGBTI movement by adding in the power of the personal; life stories that make their mark. 'I hope this book helps people understand who LGBTI people are and who we are not, ' says David. 'We are not invisible. This collection of stories celebrates the myriad ways we identify as LGBTI people. I hope these stories will stir and agitate, comfort and caress, and make you mad and cry and laugh out loud.'"

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Biography, Australia

276 pages, Hardcover

Published November 27, 2015

Reviews

[MargCal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading.... BOLD: Stories from older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex people / David Hardy with Elizabeth Whiley … 02 December, 2015

ISBN: 9780992584504
The Rag and Bone Man Press, 2015.

Anyone interested in people will find this a wonderful book, full of diverse characters whose lives have been both ordinary and amazing, often at the same time. This beautifully illustrated book celebrates older LGBTI people in the community through their own stories – real words from real people. This age cohort has lived through a time when “homosexual acts” were a criminal offence, into and through the AIDS epidemic and on to where to be LGBTI is acceptable if still not always accepted.

The stories are sad, inspiring, provoking, funny, even a bit cerebral where they are based on academic studies. The stories cross genders, cultures, races, nationalities. They are mostly Australian but not exclusively so.

While not mentioned, there is some commonality with the heterosexual community, especially in terms of aged care. In Australia, while the LGBTI community is particularly badly off, "no" aged person can look forward confidently to being cared for well if they become unable to care for themselves. A continuing fight for us all, LGBTI and S(straight!).

Most, if not all, subjects in this book have been activists of one kind or another. As a (very!) broad generalisation, the G cohort has been involved in sexual liberation, the Ls much more so in women’s lib, although the lesbians separated from their S counterparts after initially working together. The BTIs have further to go in terms of both understanding and acceptance.

A new battleground in the eyes of some is ageism, and the lack of understanding, even knowledge, by the young about what a cataclysmic change has taken place in the decades covered by the lives of the people who tell their stories here.

The final two contributors, one male, one female, from their different perspectives, sum up the “where we’ve come from” picture and point to “where to from here?”, suggesting important issues that remain to be addressed, including in those countries that have made little or no progress in recognising the existence of LGBTI people, let alone that they have rights.

I highly recommend this book as a fascinating read, a peek into the lives of others, showing the diversity of LGBTI community, possibly more than you imagine. Everyone has a story and each story is unique.

BTW, lesbians do "not" have a monopoly on comfortable footwear! :-)


I read a copy given by the author to JOY 94.9 http://joy.org.au/

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique anthology. I think my favourite story was The Weekend by Roisin O’Hagan. It was so well written and was so engaging. I also really found the story by the XXY intersex man a very informative read. Overall, it wasn't incredibly unique, but it was informative.

[Caddyshack Project · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caddyshack three word review:
Diverse, historical & powerful

[Sandy O'sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read. If you ever wondered what it's like to be gay, lesbian, transgendered or intersex and older... getting older, contemplating old age, or reminiscing on the past, this is a book that shows the diversity of ideas, thought and expression. These stories are so moving, I find it hard to believe that there are not more multi-story texts that cover off on this compelling topic. Love the gorgeous look, images, colour and type, reflecting the groovy publishing work of Rag and Bone Man Press. The brevity of the 56 chapters that cover a multitude of topics makes this a perfect read for anyone who wants to read the experience of being an older, queer person.

[Michael Burge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to revisit many of the enduring stories that sometimes seem hidden within our communities, about plenty of defiant LGBTI groundbreakers.