On Older Queer Voices, we often talk about ageing as accumulation; of love, of memory, of resilience. But ageing is also about learning how to live with what cannot be undone.

In this episode, Raga spoke with someone who, at 27, was living a full and ordinary life; friendships, laughter, plans for the future. And then, in one moment, everything changed. An accident. The loss of three friends. Prison. And a life forever divided into before and after.

At 27, Teresa’s life changed forever when she fell asleep at the wheel after a music festival, leading to a tragic accident that took the lives of three of her friends and resulted in a four-year prison sentence. This unimaginable tragedy became the catalyst for her profound journey of healing and growth, transforming pain into purpose and shaping her into the compassionate, visionary leader she is today. 

Over the past two decades, Teresa has rebuilt her life from the ground up, becoming a respected and globally resonant voice in mental health and workplace wellbeing. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience across frontline and strategic roles in the NHS, criminal justice system, corporate, and charity sectors, she has designed award-winning wellbeing programmes, led systemic culture change, and worked with diverse communities, from ex offenders and psychiatric patients to CEOs and leadership teams, empowering individuals and organisations to thrive. 

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A Christmas Wish for 2026: 'Banning Conversion Practices in the UK'

In this powerful episode, we talk about something that cuts right to the heart of LGBTQ+ community - safety, dignity, and human rights in the UK; the ongoing fight to ban conversion practices.

Conversion practices; whether medical, psychological, religious, or cultural, seek to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite repeated government promises, these harmful practices remain legal in the UK, leaving thousands of LGBTQ+ people, particularly young people, at risk.

We are joined by Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, and Dr Glenn Miles, a survivor, researcher, and long standing campaigner, to talk about the harmful reality of conversion practices and the open letter delivered to 10 Downing Street  framed as a Christmas wish  calling on the Government to finally publish a draft Bill and make 2026 the year the UK bans conversion practices for good.

For anyone that may need support  - https://www.banconversionpractices.com/support

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We hear about transition.
We rarely hear about the children who live through it.

This exclusive episode brings together a trans woman and her daughter in a first-ever public conversation about family, rupture, migration, and what love becomes when truth changes everything.

Cynthia Fortlage lived much of her life as a husband and father, raising two children inside a family shaped by care, duty, and silence. Transitioning later in life reshaped every relationship around her. Her marriage ended. Her family was reconfigured. She left Canada and began life again in the UK.

This episode examines what it means to transition as a parent, how adult children process profound change, how love survives when roles are rewritten, and how a family continues; not intact, but still connected.

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Before transition entered their lives, Joanne Lockwood and Marie Manley were a couple rooted in routine, partnership, and family life; husband, wife, parents, navigating the world in roles that seemed permanent. 

But when Joanne stepped into her truth as a trans woman, both of them were pulled into parallel transformations - Joanne into her authentic self, Marie into a new understanding of her role, her identity, and her love.

Together, they re-built their relationship, re-imagined parenting, and re-defined what staying committed truly means. And in the midst of all this emotional reshaping, they also confronted a physical one; a shared weight-loss journey that forced them to shed not just pounds, but years of emotional heaviness, fear, and expectation.

This conversation explores the life they lived before change, the transitions they navigated individually and together, the challenges of parenting through truth, the public gaze on a trans marriage, and the literal and metaphorical weight of losing the weight.

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Clare Summerskill is a celebrated writer, comedian, actor and theatre-maker whose work has amplified lesbian and LGBT+ stories for decades. From her much-loved show Why God Created Lesbians to the powerful storytelling in At the Rainbow’s End, Clare has consistently brought humour, heart and authenticity to the stage. 

On Older Queer Voices Podcast, we explore Clare’s creative process, her craft, and the impact of her work while reflecting briefly on how lived experience shapes what she brings to audiences now.

Clare Summerskill attained her doctorate from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her academic publications include Creating Verbatim Theatre from Oral Histories and Fifty Years of Lesbian and Gay Oral History, and she co-founded the LGBT Special Interest Group in the Oral History Society. Clare also is a playwright and a lesbian stand-up and she is currently touring her latest one woman show – Why God Created Lesbians! – to theatres around the country. 

Clare’s website - https://claresummerskill.co.uk

To book Clare’s shows - http://www.artemistheatre.co.uk

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As our LGBTQ+ communities age, we are entering new territory one filled with hopes, fears, systemic gaps, and deeply personal questions. What does it mean to grow older as a trans person in the UK today? What does dignity look like in later life? How do we protect identity, autonomy and respect in systems that don’t always understand us?

We are honoured to speak with Jacqui Gavin,  a remarkable woman whose life and work have shaped conversations on trans equality across the UK. Jacqui is a trailblazer, a powerful advocate, and someone who has spoken courageously about the realities of living openly as a trans woman.

Jacqui brings lived experience, insight and wisdom to this conversation, and today we will explore her journey; the past that shaped her, the advocacy that drives her, and her hopes and concerns for the future as trans people navigate ageing, vulnerability, and the healthcare system.

About Jacqui Gavin (BEM)
Jacqui Gavin BEM is a cultural transformation leader known for her steady, people centred approach to change. Recognised for her long standing work in gender equality and awarded the British Empire Medal, she has held senior roles across the Cabinet Office, Britishvolt, and Britvic, guiding organisations to build cultures rooted in trust, dignity, and accountability.

She brings deep practical experience, a clear strategic voice, and a calm commitment to creating workplaces where people feel valued and able to thrive. Through her consultancy work she supports leaders across sectors to understand their culture with honesty and to shape organisations that stand on strong, human foundations.

Follow Jacqui on Linkedin 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquigavin/
Email: [email protected]

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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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