Hometown Hero Harry Hartigan: The Man Behind Boomertown

By Bev Bachel

If you think Twin Cities Pride is only for the young, Harry Hartigan wants you to think again.

The 67-year-old Minneapolis resident is the thought leader behind Boomer Town, a special area of the June 27-28 festival dedicated to seniors who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning, commonly referred to as LGBTQ.

Boffeli, Seth

“I’ve always loved Pride, but I got to wondering how the festival could be made more inviting to older adults,” says Harry. To answer that question, he brought together members of several local organizations, including:

• AARP (which was named this year’s Corporate Champion of Pride)
• Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, a nonprofit that serves people age 60 and older who live alone and have no local support.
• Prime Timers of Minneapolis/St Paul, a nonprofit that provides older gay and bisexual men the opportunity to enrich their social lives.
• Twin Cities PRIDE Executive Director Dot Belstler

The result of their efforts is Boomer Town, a dedicated space at Pride where LGBTQ boomers can relax, enjoy one another’s company and find resources especially for them.

Boomer Town is also a way of recognizing LGBTQ seniors, many of whom are disproportionately affected by issues of stigma, isolation and unequal treatment. As Harry knows firsthand, isolation is a major issue for older adults, particularly those who are gay and transgender. Many who came out in the 1960s and 1970s paid a high price, often being completely rejected by family and friends. Some, including Harry who came out in the mid-1980s, also lost their jobs.

“It’s brutal if you don’t have a support community or the resources to take care of yourself,” says Harry, which is why he serves on the board of the Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly and has spent nearly two decades volunteering with the Twin Cities chapter of Prime Timers.

Boffeli, Seth

It’s also why he works tirelessly to raise awareness of elder issues, including the fact that many senior centers are not openly welcoming to those who are gay and transgender. One way he has increased visibility of this issue is by partnering with PFund, Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly and Prime Timers Minneapolis/St. Paul to show “Gen Silent,” a documentary that follows six seniors who must choose whether to hide their sexual orientation in order to survive long-term in the health care system.

But long before members of the LGBTQ community need senior housing, they need places where they can socialize. “Once you get to a certain age, your options for where you can go to socialize are limited,” says Harry.

Retirement, the loss of loved ones and the physical challenges that come with aging are all risk factors that lead to isolation. Add in the fact that those who are gay and transgender are twice as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be single, and three to four time as likely to be estranged from their biological families—this according to Sage, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults—and no wonder social isolation is such a big issue.

“I’ve seen people die in their homes without anyone knowing it,” says Harry. That’s why he’s working so hard to change the status quo by creating spaces such as Boomer Town where older members of the LGBTQ community can gather, connect and socialize.

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AARP is especially appreciative of Harry’s dedication. “Many LGBTQ boomers have been distanced from their families and have lived through the most difficult decades of the struggle for equality,” says AARP Communications Director Seth Boffeli. “Now, thanks to Harry, there’s a place at Pride to gather, share stories and support one another.”

Note: Boomer Town is handicapped accessible and located near parking lots and bus routes.

Freelance writer Bev Bachel is the author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go For It! A Guide for Teens . An AARP member, she will be volunteering at Boomer Town. Stop by to say hi.