Queer Elders Project is a deeply personal and visually rich exploration of aging within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This groundbreaking documentary has recently completed a year-long production across Canada and the United States and is now in post-production.

“Our queer elders have lived through generations of change, from societal rejection to hard-won rights, yet their stories remain underrepresented,” said executive producer Michelle Mama. “Queer people age with different challenges. In creating this documentary, we are honouring their experiences, struggles, and joys while amplifying their voices for future generations.”

“At its core, Queer Elders Project is about the importance of connection – across generations, geographies, and personal histories,” said producer Hannah Donegan. “Despite the adversity they’ve faced, our subjects remind us that life doesn’t stop surprising you, and that new experiences, relationships, and moments of joy can emerge at any stage of life.” Director Maya Bastian added, “This film is an opportunity to challenge stereotypes about aging, particularly within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. These are powerful, beautiful stories of survival and joy that deserve to be told.”

Spanning the course of a year, the documentary will intimately follow four remarkable working-class queer and trans seniors from diverse backgrounds across North America. Navigating the challenges of health, personal expression, and affordability, they find balance in the joy of community, resilient spirits, and the hope that even in life’s final act, there’s always something to look forward to. Filmed over four seasons in Charlottesville, Virginia; Fargo, North Dakota; and Toronto and Thunder Bay, Ontario, the documentary will premiere on TVO in spring 2027 following a 2026 festival run.

Produced by Gay Agenda, the film is directed by Maya Bastian (Tigress) and produced by Hannah Donegan (The Loneliest Race), with Michelle Mama (Summer Qamp) serving as executive producer.The film was produced with the support of TVO, Knowledge Network, and the Canada Media Fund.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.