A spectacular celebration of older LGBTIQ+ people for the whole community presented for Sydney WorldPride.
The Coming Back Out Salon is designed to be a gift; one that acknowledges the resilience of this community, a gift of visibility to older LGBTQIA+ people who have lived through it all and a safe space for those elders just discovering themselves.
The event is inspired by growing research around isolation and loneliness experienced by LGBTQIA+ elders. In Australia, these elders have lived through times when being LGBTQIA+ could result in imprisonment, enforced medical ‘cures’, loss of employment and rejection by family and friends. For many, impending old age has meant going back into the closet, for fear of being deprived of companionship and quality care when they need it most.
After presenting The Coming Back Out Salon internationally, All The Queens Men are proud to present the NSW premiere as the opening event at Sydney WorldPride. This concert features The Sydney Youth Orchestra, Robyn Archer, Deborah Cheetham, Paul Capsis, Nana Miss Koori, Tina Del Twist, June Jones, The Huxleys, Nefertiti LaNegra, Dollar Bin Darlings, Tristan Meecham and Sydney Pride Dance Championships.
Presented for Sydney WorldPride at the Sydney Town Hall. Saturday 18 February 2023.
Creative Director and Host: Tristan Meecham.
Producer and Stage Manager: Anna Pidgeon.
Community Lead: Russ Gluyas, Love Project ACON.
Musical Director: Sam Weller.
Designer: Jonathon Oxlade.
Banner Construction: Seana O’Brien.
Lighting: Bosco Shaw.
Production Manager: Emma Bedford.
Production Support: Bec Reid.
Assistant Stage Manager: Annie Winter.
Publicist: Ben Starick.
Marketing Support: Sam Watson-Wood.
Front of House: Tom Halls
Followspot: Ketil Bedford
LGBTIQ+ Media Spokespeople: Colleen Windsor, Trevor Pritchard, David Polson, Ros Hope, Jessica-Su Tang, Apple Jack (AJ) Brown, Eliese Embrey
Performers: Robyn Archer with George Butrumlis, Deborah Cheetham, Paul Capsis, Tina Del Twist, Nefertiti LaNegra, June Jones, Nana Miss Koori, Sydney Pride Dance Championships, The Huxleys, The Dollar Bin Darlings & Sydney Youth Orchestra.
The Guardian: ‘The joy is waking up and liking who you are’: six LGBTQ+ guiding lights on the long road to now, by Steve Dow
Sydney Morning Herald: The fresh threat looming for older LGBTQ people, by Billie Eder.
The Guardian: The Coming Back Out Salon: Sydney WorldPride celebrates older LGBTQIA+ community – in pictures, by Stuart Miller.
Archer Magazine: Safe spaces for older LGBTIQ+ people: The Coming Back Out Salon.
City of Sydney: Loud and proud: The groups making queer life better at Sydney WorldPride.
The Coming Back Out Salon, Sydney
Sydney Town Hall (Gadigal Land)
The Coming Back Out Social
Victorian State Library, Melbourne (Kulin Nations)
Coming Back Out Tea Dance
Collingwood Town Hall, Melbourne (Kulin Nations)
Coming Back Out, Scotland
Glasgow and Inverness, Scotland
Coming Back Out Brisbane
The Tivoli, Brisbane Festival (Turrbal and Jagera Country)
Coming Back Out, Scotland
Glasgow and Inverness, Scotland
Coming Back Out Brisbane
The Tivoli, Brisbane Festival (Turrbal and Jagera Country)
The Coming Back Out Salon
Myer Mural Hall, Melbourne (Naarm)
The Coming Back Out Ball
Melbourne Town Hall (Kulin Nations)
Coming Back Out: In Conversation
MPavilion (Kulin Nations)
Where do we start? The Panel
The Substation, Melbourne (Kulin Nations)