Ageism (discrimination on the basis of age) is easy to overlook and difficult to untangle. It is compounded by other forms of prejudice and LGBTQIA2S+ communities are especially susceptible to generational silos. Thanks to their unique life courses, though, queer people happen to be very well-suited to dismantle ageism and dispel any notions of intergenerational conflict. In this workshop we will be exploring the intersection of ageism and queerphobia and how they combine and cause more harm together. We will learn to combat them both, along with other forms of prejudice, in order to make the world a better place for everyone.

Age Pride – Ageism and the Queer Experience Workshop Created By: Ryan Backer & Kyrié Carpenter for Oldschool.info

This 30-minute workshop led by queer age activist Ryan Backer investigates how ageism & queerphobia intersect & how to dismantle them both. 

Ryan Backer is an age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional framework. They have been on this social justice path since 2013 and are a co-creator of Old School. They've facilitated workshops on undoing ageism and queering age in NYC, Philadelphia, Louisville, Germany, Ireland, and Canada. You can learn more about their anti-ageism workshop 'Age Queer' in their zine linked below, as well as their collaborative workshop called "Let's Dismantle Ageism!".

Ryan aims to eradicate ageism, along with white supremacy, gender bias, ableism, body shaming, homophobia, classism and all other forms of oppression. They've worked as an in-home care partner, as well as interned at the Edie Windsor SAGE Center, the NYC Elder Abuse Center, and Brooklyn Pride Center's ElderPRIDE. When they are not presenting workshops or working on Old School they are organizing intergenerational events and groups, creating zines, and writing articles for ChangingAging. 

Ryan identifies as a white, non-binary, European-American ‘old person in training’ with an undergraduate degree in Gerontology. 

Photo Credit: Kinga Michalska

Age activist striving to undo ageism within an intersectional framework.

Ryan Backer

A short guide to rejecting the young/old binary—individually &amp; collectively—designed to inspire new approaches to aging

A short guide to rejecting the young/old binary—individually & collectively—designed to inspire new approaches to aging

Age Queer Workshop

Trained as a therapist, Kyrié is a teacher and public speaker, specializing in ageism and dementia. She co-founded the anti-ageism clearinghouse OldSchool.info with Ashton Applewhite and Ryan Backer, is an educator with The Eden Alternative, author of Healing Dementia, and adjunct faculty at USI and Pacifica Graduate Institute. She loves to travel, was a cast member on Dr. Bill Thomas' nationwide ChangingAging Tour, and has been living part-time in a campervan with her family since 2015.

Millennial planting seeds for personal & cultural growth through teaching & speaking.

Kyrié Carpenter

The DEI + N Talks. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Neurodiversity

A panel discussion on ageism in (DEI+N) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Neurodivergence relevant to diverse thinkers & learners

Resource Type:	Talk
About this resource:	Ageism (discrimination on the basis of age) is easy to overlook and difficult to untangle. It is compounded by other forms of prejudice and LGBTQIA2S+ communities are especially susceptible to generational silos. Thanks to their unique life courses, though, queer people happen to be very well-suited to dismantle ageism and dispel any notions of intergenerational conflict. In this workshop we will be exploring the intersection of ageism and queerphobia and how they combine and cause more harm together. We will learn to combat them both, along with other forms of prejudice, in order to make the world a better place for everyone.
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Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse

Resource: Age Pride – Ageism and the Queer Experience

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Age Queer Workshop

Nuthin but a Number The Age Edition