Join us as we explore generational differences and commonalities in the LGBTQIA+ community and discuss how ageism, homophobia, cultural/religious values, and life course inequalities impact LGBTQIA+ people and the nature of intergenerational relations. Presenters will share ideas for creating safe spaces and programs that intentionally bring people of different ages together to engage in meaningful exchange, advocate for policy changes, and foster intergenerational empathy.
Meet Our Speakers:
- Phyllis Johnson, Elder Liaison, LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project
- Katia Elise Klemm, Undergraduate Research Assistant, LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project
- Adam Greteman, Associate Professor of Art Education, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project
- Andrew King, Professor of Sociology, University of Surrey, United Kingdom
- Wilfred Labiosa, Founder and CEO, Waves Ahead, Puerto Rico
A 30-minute optional Q& A Session will follow the 1-hour event.
Attendance is open, but all participants must register in advance to attend. The webinar will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be shared with everyone who registers.
This webinar is presented as part of Generations United’s Shared Site Learning Network which is made possible with support from The Eisner Foundation.
Speaker Bios:
Phyllis Johnson (born 1951) is a 73 year old human and alum + elder liaison for The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project. She is a retired Columbia College Chicago teacher who thrives on being engaged with her various communities. She serves on the board of Affinity Community Services and the West Chesterfield Community Association as well as the State of Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging. She co- founded Women of All Colors and Cultures Together which was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2024. She seeks empowerment through participation and engagement.
Katia Ellise Klemm (born 1998) is the curator and undergraduate research assistant for The LGBTQ Intergenerational Dialogue Project and working towards a Bachelor of Arts of Visual and Critical Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They were born and raised in Orlando, FL and moved to Chicago in 2020. They are exploring pathways that lead toward deep, complex community love by learning from our lived experiences.
Adam J. Greteman (born 1983) is a co-founder and co-facilitator of The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project. He is Chair and Associate Professor of Art Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). He is the author of Queers Teach This! Queer and Trans Pleasures, Politics, and Pedagogues (Bloomsbury, 2024) and Sexualities and Genders in Education: Toward Queer Thriving (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2018). Since 2023 he has been a Visiting Professor at the Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Center at the University of Sydney.
Andrew King is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Surrey, UK and co-director of the ‘Centre for Research on Ageing and Generations’ (CRAG). He has researched LGBTQ+ ageing for over 17 years and written and contributed to many books and articles. He led a project, which investigated intersectional inequalities experienced by LGBTQI+ people in four European countries and his interest in generations, including recently published work, stemmed from that. He also recently completed a more practical project conducted with colleagues (Matthew Hall and Helen Kingstone), which co-produced a toolkit with and for community organisations to facilitate intergenerational exchanges and dialogue in LGBTQ+ communities.
Wilfred W. Labiosa, PhD, has been a community leader and advocate for the last thirty-five years working in the public health field with marginalized communities such as the Latino and LGBT+ communities in the United States, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. He has published his research with the dually-diagnosed Latino community, mental health and a substance abuse diagnosis, and has collaborated on books related to the LGBT Latino/a community and mental health field. He is currently the co-founder and executive director of Waves Ahead Corp in Puerto Rico, an organization focusing on the LGBTTQ+ older adult’s mental health and social wellbeing. In 2024, he published the book, The LGBT+ Cuban Revolution (Deletrea). He has a doctorate degree from Simmons University, School of Social Work, a Master’s Degree from Northeastern University’s Department of Counseling Psychology, a graduate certificate from Suffolk University’s management of non-profits, and a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University.