More than 100 tickets were snapped up for GRAI’s second Golden GRAI Time, with people braving a wet Perth Saturday night to fill the dancefloor at Connections Nightclub.
The 1980s-themed event brought together fabulous music, entertainment, food and plenty of dancing, but Golden GRAI Time is about more than a good night out. It gives people the chance to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, share stories and celebrate the diverse community around them.
Led by GRAI (GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc), the event is a public celebration of older LGBTI people, their lives and the contribution they have made to the community we know today.
A highlight of the night was a drag performance by Perth artists Barbie Q and Alexis Armstrong, who wowed the crowd before speaking about drag’s place in LGBTI culture, from entertainment and celebration to protest, visibility and social change. Their reflections were a reminder that drag has been part of Perth’s changing LGBTI story for decades. After the performance, Barbie and Alexis stayed on to mingle and pose for photographs.
GRAI Chair David Gibson said many of the people at Golden GRAI Time came of age when homosexuality was criminalised, discrimination was commonplace and simply living openly could come at an enormous personal cost.
“There were people dancing at Connections on Saturday night who remember when our lives looked very different. They found each other, built friendships and communities, challenged discrimination and, in doing so, helped change the world for those who came after them.
“Golden GRAI Time recognises that history, but it isn’t about looking backwards. It is about celebrating people who have rich lives, great stories, strong friendships and plenty still to contribute. It is also a very public way of saying to our LGBTI elders: you are still here, you still belong and you matter.”
The inaugural event in 2025 was particularly significant, forming part of celebrations marking both 50 years of Connections Nightclub and GRAI’s 21st birthday. Its return for a second year is another step towards establishing Golden GRAI Time as an annual fixture on Perth’s LGBTI social calendar.
The importance of connection becomes even greater as people age. Older LGBTI people are more likely than the broader older population to live alone and experience loneliness and social isolation. Many also have smaller informal networks of care and support, while for some, the consequences of family rejection and discrimination experienced decades ago continue into later life.
David Gibson said responding to isolation and loneliness did not always have to begin with another formal program or service.
“Sometimes people just need somewhere to go where they know they belong. There is something wonderfully ordinary about walking into a nightclub, hearing the music of your younger years, seeing familiar faces and having a dance.
“But for people who once had to hide who they were, being able to do that openly and surrounded by community carries a little more meaning. Older LGBTI individuals fought for the right to live ordinary lives openly, and part of ageing well should be having the opportunity to stay connected, have fun and continue to be part of the community they helped create.”
GRAI hopes Golden GRAI Time will become an annual public celebration of older LGBTI people and a clear declaration of their continuing worth and place within Western Australia’s LGBTI community.
Reflecting on Saturday night, Mr Gibson said the success of Golden GRAI Time could ultimately be measured in something much simpler than ticket numbers.
“People danced, laughed, caught up with old friends, made some new ones and a few probably stayed out later than they intended. That is exactly what we wanted.
“But when you looked around that dancefloor, you were also looking at decades of LGBTI history. There was something pretty special about seeing that history still dancing.”
GRAI thanked Connections Nightclub, Montebello Catering and everyone who helped make Golden GRAI Time possible.
