Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Once again in honor of the 12th Annual Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day, I am sharing #AMPLIFY posts from parents, step parents  and grandparents and other caretakers of children. 

Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day is meant to bring together people who are LGBTQ as well as our families and allies. It’s a celebration of LGBTQ families whether you’re part of one, know one, or just want to support them. (via event organizer Mombian) Please follow the link to read all of the blog posts honoring our LGBTQ families.

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 at least the end of 2018. 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 parenting in the context of one or more of the questions. About 20% of the contributors are parents.

If you appreciate our blogging, please consider a contribution

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. Krissy, 34, Talks About Step Parenting as a Bisexual Woman 
2. Angela is a Queer Mother & Intersectional Feminist
3. James, 54, Is a Gay Pittsburgh Dad Living in Texas
4. Laura, 44, is a Lesbian Mom in Fayette County 
5. Janet, 66, is Bisexual, Cisgender and Gender Nonconforming
6. Caitlyn 51, Lives Her Authentic Self as a Trans Woman in Erie 
7. Jamie, 52, Celebrates the Queer Tribe Rising
8. Jay, 33, Says Stories Are Part of Queer Liberation
9. Cheryl, 42, Wants Us To See Everyone in the LGBTQ Community
10. Eileen, 52, Reflects on the Awakening of Her LGBTQ Community
11. Kim, 40, Mother, Pansexual and Mexican-American in Washington County
12. Camellia, 30, is a Lesbian, Soon-to-be Wife, and Momma 
13. Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists
14. Sara, 28, Single Mom, Agnostic Jew, and Queer in Ohio
15. Jay, 54, Considers His Gay Identity Both Now and The
16. For Jodi’s Kids, Having Two Mothers Is Just a Fact of Life
17. Kim, 44, Say She Lost Her Job in Beaver County Because She’s a Lesbian
18. Alissa, 34, is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County
19. De, 49, is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA
20. Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a Gender Fluid Child
21. Heather Refuses to Marginalize Herself as a Bisexual Woman
22. Dinah Denmark: Lesbian, Jewish, Buddhist
23. Kathi Wants To Connect with LGBTQ Elders in Rural Communities
24. Shaquanna Wants Families to Have Positive Conversations With LGBTQ Relatives
25. Jeff Hopes the LGBTQ Community Will Embrace a Common Queer Identity
26. Jess is a Lesbian Mother Who Wants More Family Friendly Resources
27. Diane Discusses Being Belligerently Out in Pittsburgh
28. Anonymous Grieves How Pittsburgh’s Gay and Lesbian Community Treats Bisexuals
29. Maria Wants You To Know a Family Like Hers #AMPLIFY
30. Lyndsey Identifies as a Queer Genderfluid Lipstuck Butch
31. Alex is a Black Trans Man Who Doesn’t Apologize For His Existence
32. David Talks About the State of Equality in Erie
33. Bee Asks Where Single Parents Fit Into the LGBTQ Community
34. Vic Lives Closeted in Westmoreland County
35. Gary Has Lived in Northwest and Southwest PA As An Openly Gay Man
36. Paula Speaks Out About Bi-Erasure and Bisexual Exclusion
37. Joy KMT Values Intersectional Healing Spaces
38. Gina Shares Her Truth With Those Who Deserve To Know
39. Donna Met a Female Impersonator Who Made a Lasting Impression
40. Joyce Believes Tolerance Is Not Acceptance

If you would like to read our previous years’ contributions

2016 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 29 Parents Share Their Experiences

2014 – Summertime Traditions For Our LGBTQ Family

2013 – Blogging Because We Are Family!

2012 – Being an Advocate: 7th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families

2011 – Blogging for LGBT Families 2011 – Don’t Devalue the Aunties

2010 – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Families – a Blog Post

2009 – Blogging for LGBT Families in Pennsylvania