Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

For the past 18 months, I have been collecting Q&A responses from LGBTQ folks with ties to Western Pennsylvania. The project is called #AMPLIFY and we plan to continue seeking Q&A contributions through the end of 2017. Participants are 18+, identify as part of the LGBTQ community and have ties to Western Pennsylvania.

We ask a lot of (mostly) open-ended questions about their identities and experiences. We do not ask any questions specifically about their family status, but many of them mention the fact that they are a parent in the context of one or more of the questions. About 20% of the contributors are parents.

For my contribution to the annual Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day project, I decided the best thing to do is to amplify their Q&A posts. Please read as many as you like and absorb some of the wisdom and wit they have to share. Please note that I included people I know to be parenting or grandparenting. I did not necessarily include everyone who is a caretaker for a child. If I left anyone out, I apologize.

1. Camellia, 30, is a Lesbian, Soon-to-be Wife, and Momma 
2. Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists
3. Sara, 28, Single Mom, Agnostic Jew, and Queer in Ohio
4. Jay, 54, Considers His Gay Identity Both Now and The
5. For Jodi’s Kids, Having Two Mothers Is Just a Fact of Life
6. Kim, 44, Say She Lost Her Job in Beaver County Because She’s a Lesbian
7. Alissa, 34, is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County
8. De, 49, is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA
9. Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a Gender Fluid Child
10. Heather Refuses to Marginalize Herself as a Bisexual Woman
11. Dinah Denmark: Lesbian, Jewish, Buddhist
12. Kathi Wants To Connect with LGBTQ Elders in Rural Communities
13. Shaquanna Wants Families to Have Positive Conversations With LGBTQ Relatives
14. Jeff Hopes the LGBTQ Community Will Embrace a Common Queer Identity
15. Jess is a Lesbian Mother Who Wants More Family Friendly Resources
16. Diane Discusses Being Belligerently Out in Pittsburgh
17. Anonymous Grieves How Pittsburgh’s Gay and Lesbian Community Treats Bisexuals
18. Maria Wants You To Know a Family Like Hers #AMPLIFY
19. Lyndsey Identifies as a Queer Genderfluid Lipstuck Butch
20. Alex is a Black Trans Man Who Doesn’t Apologize For His Existence
21. David Talks About the State of Equality in Erie
22. Bee Asks Where Single Parents Fit Into the LGBTQ Community
23. Vic Lives Closeted in Westmoreland County
24. Gary Has Lived in Northwest and Southwest PA As An Openly Gay Man
25. Paula Speaks Out About Bi-Erasure and Bisexual Exclusion
26. Joy KMT Values Intersectional Healing Spaces
27. Gina Shares Her Truth With Those Who Deserve To Know
28. Donna Met a Female Impersonator Who Made a Lasting Impression
29. Joyce Believes Tolerance Is Not Acceptance

Let me ask this question before you click away – when is the last time you attended or organized a LGBTQ event in Pittsburgh that offered childcare? Please leave a comment with your response.

If you would like to contribute to our project, we’d love to amplify your story. You should be 18 or older, identify as part of the LGBTQ community and have ties to at least one of the 26 counties in Western Pennsylvania. The online Q&A is available here. More information is available here.