Zaddies? Elders? Hot mamas? A roundtable of five queers discuss desire, race, (in)visibility, and access as they age. Co-hosts leZlie lee kam and Rhoma Spencer are joined by Debbie Douglas, Canute Lawrence and Carol Thames for a lively discussion about navigating ageism in queer spaces and beyond.
About our guests
Debbie Douglas is an Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. Through her work in the NGO sector and particularly at the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, Debbie has highlighted issues of equity and inclusion including race, gender and sexual orientation within the immigration system and promoted the creation of safe, welcoming spaces within the settlement and integration sector. She was also a member of the provinces’ Expert Panel on Immigration and Income Security Reform Working Group.
Canute Lawrence has been an educator for almost four decades who has taught in Jamaica, the United States of America, and Canada. As an educator, Canute has been an advocate for and supporter of all students who are disenfranchised and marginalized, especially those of African descent and belonging to the LGBTQ2S community. Canute believes everyone can be an advocate for equity in their own unique way.
For Carol Thames, coming out as a Queer, Black woman was an act of activism and resistance. Carol has been an advocate for equity and liberation – from her first queer production, poetry, publications to advocating for equity regarding anti-Black racism, and for Queer liberation and rights. Carol has organized events that have created safe spaces within the Queer community. Her education includes two post-graduate degrees. Carol has immersed herself – both in professional and volunteer capacities – in numerous not-for-profit, community agencies since the early 1990s.
Listen, subscribe, and share!
Read the full episode transcript here (coming soon), and find the episode (and subscribe to the podcast) on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
Intro and outro by leZlie lee kam and Ty Sloane, featuring music by Jessie Tollefsen. Sound editing by Em Lubbers, with support from Maddie Bautista. Podcast logo by Paul Dotey.
The Youth/Elders Podcast features personal stories, lived histories, and candid conversations between queer youth, queer elders, and lots of folks in between – for more information and to sign up for podcast updates, visit the podcast’s homepage.
