On 21 November 2022, Bernd (66) ties his tie in his bedroom in Hanover. After decades of bullying and discrimination, Bernd has regained his self-confidence through his own style – classic, harmonious and carefully chosen. As a gay man who grew up in a rural area of Germany, he faced isolation and delayed coming out, which eventually happened gradually in adulthood. Despite rejection by parts of his family and the loss of two long-term partners, Bernd has remained true to himself. In 2006, he met his husband Joachim online, and their relationship lasted until Joachim's sudden death in 2018. Today, Bernd reflects on resilience, loss and the challenges of ageing in a society where queer seniors often face both invisibility and age discrimination.