LEV was present at the Big Gay Out in Auckland in February. With our experience from last year, we decided to do something about ageism. It is important to us that our wider community realises that age is something we all have to face. (Ask yourself what the alternative is to getting old.) And with ageing comes the neccesstity to make changes, to adapt. Where will you be when you cannot live independent anymore?

We organised some clipboards and lab coats and asked lesbians whether they showed the 7 signs of ageing. If they did they won one of our fabulous fridge magnets.

What are the 7 signs of aging? Well, this is what we came up with:

• some grey hair
• being wiser
  
• being more grumpy
• knowing better what you want
• not being that concerned about what others might think
• wrinkles, sagging skin
• no more money for tampons because already in menopause
• starting to avoid certain foods

I know, these are actually 8 signs. And the women and men we asked came up with a lot more once they started thinking about the changes, good or bad. And while it was great fun getting others to talk about ageing, not everybody reacted friendly to this confrontation. Similar to last year we experienced some bad comments. Especially women who left youth behind a while ago did not like to be reminded how visible to everybody this is. Young women and gay men of all ages did not have such a problem with the 7 or more signs.

I always leave these events surprised how much women my age block out this part of our future. Even if they look after ageing parents at home or in retirement homes.

But we also had a lot of supportive reactions to our project. And some fridge magnets found their way into the homes of Wellington MPs where they hopefuly will work to grow our political support. We also got to perform our new song about the E Word.

And we will go back next year to make us and LEV know in the community.