Intergenerational Queer Trajectories: Friendship and Connectedness among Younger and Older LGBTQ+ People in Ireland.

This study examines intergenerational LGBTQ + friendships in Ireland, considering how queer understandings of time and ageing inform these relationships. Reflexive thematic analysis of life history interviews with seven younger (18-35) and seven older (60+) LGBTQ+ individuals revealed how shared queer experiences such as coming out, "gay age," and relived adolescence create commonality and connection despite age differences. These friendships are also shaped through intergenerational exchange and "role modelling," with LGBTQ+ knowledge and histories countering narratives like the "lonely old gay man" and offering alternative modes of queer ageing and living. While challenges arise from negative stereotypes, distinct historical contexts, and barriers to interaction, participants emphasise the sense of mutual understanding, historical connectedness, and hope for the future that underpins these bonds. Together, these findings illuminate what we term "intergenerational queer trajectories": nonnormative life pathways involving shared queer experiences, histories, and imagined futures through which LGBTQ+ individuals connect across generations.