June 26 event offers food, entertainment, and an affirming space where older adults can be fully themselves
ST. PAUL, MN: Friends & Co will welcome 120 guests to this year’s Older & Bolder Pride Celebration Luncheon on Friday, June 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wilder Foundation (451 Lexington Pkwy N, St. Paul). Designed for LGBTQ+ adults ages 62 and older, the gathering creates a joyful, affirming space during Pride month.
For many LGBTQ+ older adults, aging can bring unexpected challenges, including isolation and environments where it feels safer to conceal identity once again. Research and lived experience show that some seniors feel pressure to “go back into the closet” when entering housing, healthcare, or social settings that may not feel welcoming. Events like Older & Bolder are designed to counter that reality, offering a place where participants can show up authentically and build meaningful connections.
Advance registration is required at friendsco.org
Part of Friends & Co’s ongoing Let’s Do Lunch Cafe series, the luncheon includes:
- Professionally catered buffet meal
- Live entertainment from OutLoud!, a vibrant ensemble from the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
- Prize giveaways
Building Community for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
Older & Bolder was originally launched around 2021 by Rainbow Health, with support from organizations including OutFront Minnesota, as an accessible and intentional addition to Pride-month programming that didn’t always meet the needs of older adults. Early gatherings took place at venues like St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis and locations in Plymouth.
In 2025, the event found a new home with Friends & Co and its Let’s Do Lunch Cafe program, bringing expanded reach and ongoing opportunities for connection throughout the year.
About Friends & Co
Friends & Co (formerly Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly Twin Cities) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing isolation and loneliness among older adults. Through programs like Let’s Do Coffee and Let’s Do Lunch Cafe, Friends & Co facilitates welcoming spaces where older adults can connect, form friendships, and stay engaged in their communities.
Media Opportunities
Media are invited to attend and cover the event. Interview opportunities are available with:
- Event organizers
- Pre-specified LGBTQ+ older adults attending the luncheon
Media Contact:
Paul Cram, Marketing & Communications Director
Friends & Co
pcram@friendsco.org | 612-746-0753
