Welcome to This Is Us.
We know that life doesn’t stop at 50 – so where are all our pictures? This Is Us is a photography project conceptualised by Switchboard aiming to tackle the lack of representation for older LGBTQ people. To show the full breadth of our experience, our love, our joy, our reality. Where cliché and ageism has failed us – these portraits hope to act as an antidote to misrepresentation.
Coinciding with the annual Ageing Well Festival in Brighton and Hove, we held an open call for participants aged 50+ to join us and esteemed photographer Keith Bernstein. Alongside the photographs there are quotes from the sitters who we interviewed to give a further insight into the lives of older LGBTQ people.
Natalie: I think I do feel nourished by all that I've had.
Natalie: I think I do feel nourished by all that I've had.
Graham & Frank: It’s very peaceful and you sort of want that when you get older. I think you do. It sounds a bit of a cliche but you do.
Graham & Frank: It’s very peaceful and you sort of want that when you get older. I think you do. It sounds a bit of a cliche but you do.
Chris: I suddenly realized how meaningful it was for me to have him there […] that was part of the reason I brought him in today - to include him
Chris: I suddenly realized how meaningful it was for me to have him there […] that was part of the reason I brought him in today - to include him
Jane & Kath: We live every day. We are spontaneous and we do things because we've been to that place where you might not have another day together.
Jane & Kath: We live every day. We are spontaneous and we do things because we've been to that place where you might not have another day together.
Sylvia: Laughter got me through a lot when I was pretending to be heterosexual
Sylvia: Laughter got me through a lot when I was pretending to be heterosexual
Maggie & Sylvia: We know we’re a double act
Maggie & Sylvia: We know we’re a double act
Jeff: There are lots of us out there who are older, different, unique and that uniqueness should be celebrated.
Jeff: There are lots of us out there who are older, different, unique and that uniqueness should be celebrated.
DavidI could have gone to here or Colchester, and I thought Brighton’s probably more fun!
David: I could have gone to here or Colchester, and I thought Brighton’s probably more fun!
Natalie: We have two families really, a family of origin, if you like. And our family of choice.
Natalie: We have two families really, a family of origin, if you like.
And our family of choice.
Jackie: I think this is a dyke look
- isn't it?!
Jackie: If not now, when?
Jane & Kath: And that's the first time that I can just be me a hundred percent of the time.
Jane & Kath: And that's the first time that I can just be me a hundred percent of the time.
Steve: It doesn't matter what age you are ... I feel I want to be a part of the community.
Steve: It doesn't matter what age you are ... I feel I want to be a part of the community.
Sylvia & Maggie: Thank God we’re in Brighton
Sylvia & Maggie: Thank God we’re in Brighton
![Jackie: [now I can] present myself in the way that I want to, not in a way that I felt obliged](http://www.switchboard.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/70202326-scaled.jpg)
Jackie: [now I can] present myself in the way that I want to, not in a way that I felt obliged.
Jackie: If not now, when?
Natalie: That is exactly who I am. Double chins
Natalie: That is exactly who I am.
Double chins.
Sylvia & Maggie: I’ve got this theory […] – it was John Major fancied Ian McKellen and that’s how the big shift came about.
Sylvia & Maggie: I’ve got this theory […] – it was John Major fancied Ian McKellen and that’s how the big shift came about.
Jeff: And a project like this, it's really about celebrating [the] unique quality that we each bring to the world.
Jeff: And a project like this, it's really about celebrating [the] unique quality that we each bring to the world.
Members of The Breakfast Club: You get to the point where you couldn’t care less!
Members of The Breakfast Club: You get to the point where you couldn’t care less!
Jane & Kath: So it's important for us to be visible for [young people] to say, do you know what actually, keep going. You might get there.
Jane & Kath: So it's important for us to be visible for [young people] to say, do you know what actually, keep going. You might get there.
Jane & Kath: We never dreamed that we would be married. We’re proud that we’re married and proud that we’re out.
Jane & Kath: We never dreamed that we would be married. We’re proud that we’re married and proud that we’re out.
Whilst this is a great starting point, we’re hoping to add to the project as we are aware that this is by no means representative of the breadth of older LGBTQ lives. In particular we’re looking for sitters who are trans, non-binary and/or people of colour. If you are interested in taking part in a future shoot please email [email protected].
Photography by Keith Bernstein.
Copyright © 2021 Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard and Keith Bernstein. All rights reserved.
Please do not reproduce these images without credit.