Taylor Wants More LGBTQ Resources and Community Unity #AMPLIFY

Name: Taylor

Age: 27

County of Residence: Allegheny

Preferred Pronouns: Queen(she)

How do you describe your identity? Female Lesbian

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out was hard, I just came out and said I like girls, everyone was quiet for a while, then they started to ask questions. I was in the closet for a long time. I didn’t get the support I wanted so I ended up doing stupid things. The challenges I face were being embarrassed, people saying its just a phase and doing what makes other people happy. I do get support now.

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? I never been happier until now.

Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? The first one was my cousin, she really had no impact on my life I was still a virgin.

Past or present, favorite LGBTQ character or creator in television, film or literature? Please tell us why. Ellen DeGeneres. She’s makes it possible to be comfortable in your own skin and knowing that the possibilities are endless.

How do you stay informed about LGBTQ issues? I read a lot about the LGBTQ community.

Describe your geographical community. I grew up in the Caribbean. I have reside both in NY and Miami. I relocated to PA a little over a year.

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. My favorite cousin. A few managers. A few associates.

Have you ever experienced discrimination based on your identity? Specifically, in a job setting, when applying for housing or while in public. No.

Describe your community in terms of being LGBTQ friendly (or not) LGBTQ friendly where ever I go.

Are there issues impacting your LGBTQ neighbors that aren’t visible or part of the local dialogue? No.

What would you like to see elected officials do to improve life for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians? Make it better for LGBTQ communities.

Please share a lived experience, anecdote or fact about life as a LGBTQ person in your community. Just keep pushing for what you want in life and don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way.

Beyond discrimination, what other barriers create challenges for your LGBTQ neighbors? I’m not sure.

What LGBTQ friendly resources are available for your neighbors? None that I know of. I think we need a lot of those.

What is your greatest fear for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania? My fear is the community would not get along, it’s too much hate against each other. We need to reunite and be one.

What is your greatest hope for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania? Everyone get along.

What can allies do to support your LGBTQ community? Establish more lgbtq resources.

How can gay men and lesbians support the bisexual, transgender and queer members of our community? Coming together as one.

What motivated you to take part in this project? I wanted to share my thoughts.

Finally, what question should I have asked? Please also share your answer. Not sure.

Thank you, Taylor.

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive.

AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to tell us what we’ve missed asking. It is one of the vibrant elements of a blog format – evolution & growth.

Our intent is to highlight the voices of marginalized members of our community who are not always invited to the table or whose voices are not heard (because “we” are not listening?) Obviously, my choice of questions does shape the conversation, but beyond that – these are glimpses in to the lived experiences of LGBTQ people in Western Pennsylvania as told in their own voices. If you would like to participate, please email me pghlesbian at gmail or visit the online Q&A.

You can read the other Q&A responses here. AMPLIFY! LGBTQ is a project of Most Wanted Fine Art and Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents.