Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Name: Jayme Lynn

Age: 59

County of Residence: Allegheny County, previously Dauphin county and Cumberland county

Pronouns: She,her,Ms

How do you describe your identity? Transgender woman

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Hiding for 55 yrs,I found strength in the Diana Sawyer, Caitlin Jenner interview,wife knew about me for 25 yrs but told everyone she had no idea and.her and my son’s no longer have contact with me

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Happy,but severe depression and PTSD

Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? When I entered the Navy only at 18yrs of age I saw people like me out in San Diego

Past or present, favorite LGBTQ character or creator in television, film or literature? Please tell us why. True Blood’s Lafayette

How do you stay informed about LGBTQ issues? I follow current affairs

Describe your geographical community. Some what , I’m impressed with the Transgender medical community

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. Not very familiar with the community, I’m fairly new to this part of Pa

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Have you ever experienced discrimination based on your identity? Specifically, in a job setting, when applying for housing or while in public.  Yes several former employer’s won’t give references,two landlord’s wouldn’t return my phone calls

Have you experienced microagressions based on your identity? Think everyday indignities & slights that you experience, but would not characterize as discrimination. Please describe in your own words. Store clerks mis identify, some crude remarks by transit riders

Tell us about your access to health care in Western PA. Has it been LGBTQ competent (or not?) Very competent,not so with PERSAD(in my opinion) the OAKLAND VA hospital is VERY TRANS FRIENDLY and have a great Transgender team headed by Dr Danalle Palidino

Are there issues impacting your LGBTQ neighbors that aren’t visible or part of the local dialogue? Not sure how to answer this question

What would you like to see elected officials do to improve life for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians? Pass the equal protection bill !!!!

Please share a lived experience, anecdote or fact about life as an LGBTQ person in your community. Learn about daytime make up and night time make up,the “NAME CHANGE PROJECT” helps change your name legally Free of charge

Beyond discrimination, what other barriers create challenges for your LGBTQ neighbors? From 30-on up many agencies don’t support the “mature” Transgender community as well as our youth (which is important for our youth) the adult MTF community is often forgotten about and are left in the dark at a certain age your history is erased and it’s not very easy to start again as it is when in your twenties or 30’s even

What LGBTQ friendly resources are available for your neighbors? Mercy behavior, if you are a Veteran the VA is very helpful with transgender and in general LGBTQ treatment

What is your greatest fear for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania?  Being lost in representation of issues and equality

What is your greatest hope for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania? To finally be on equality levels

What pieces of local or regional LGBTQ history would you like to preserve and why? Not familiar with the area

What can allies do to support your LGBTQ community? Stand with us on the issues

How can gay men and lesbians support the bisexual, transgender and queer members of our community?

Stop thinking we are BANDWAGON JUMPER’S,AND OR IMPOSTER’S AFFRAID TO SAY WE ARE REALLY JUST GAY,OR LESBEIN (because trans isn’t REAL!… I’ve heard this said to me personally by gay and Lesbian individuals)

What motivated you to take part in this project? Pride

Finally, what question should I have asked? Please also share your answer. Have you been sexually assaulted and how if at all was it handled by authorities

Thank you, Jayme Lyn.

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive.

Submit your own Q&A using our online form.

AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. These are glimpses in to the lived experiences of LGBTQ people in Western Pennsylvania as told in their own voices.