De, 49, Is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Beaver County

Name: De Age: 49 County of Residence: Beaver Preferred Pronouns: Her/She How do you describe your identity? Black lesbian woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came our late in life age 35, i had a few gay male friends that supported me. Since I didn’t have any lesbian friends […]

Joe Was Dragged Out of The Closet As A Young Man #AMPLIFY

Name: Joe Age: 36 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? Gay male.  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Everyone has a different story but for me, I was sort of dragged out of the closet as a young man. I think people […]

KD is a Gay Woman Who Chooses To Be On The Periphery #AMPLIFY

Name: KD Age: 49 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she /her/hers How do you describe your identity? Gay woman. Like Ellen, I don’t like the word lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I did not have 1 single experience. I came out to different people at different times. So […]

Sabrina, 50, Found New Friends When She Came Out As Trans #AMPLIFY

Butler County Transgender

Name: Sabrina Age: 50 County of Residence:  Butler Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Trans female (MtF), heterosexual, white. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was the first person to come out as Transgender at work. I work in a steel mill and the largest […]

Lela Wants Bisexual Voices To Be Heard #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Bisexual

Name: Lela Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny. I’ve lived in a few states, but was born and raised (and now currently reside) in Pittsburgh. Preferred Pronouns: She, her. How do you describe your identity? Caucasian, Italian, Bisexual, Woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out as bisexual at 15. […]

Kevin, 38, Talks About Jack Kerouac, Senior Housing and Gay Crushes #AMPLIFY

This is AMPLIFY post #92. We plan to publish continuously through the beginning of the week to reach #100 in time for our tenth blogaversary on December 29, 2015. Stay tuned!   Name: Kevin Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny, grew up in Oklahoma Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? White gay male.  Please describe your coming […]

Jus Hadiya Wants to Spread Education #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Amplify

  Name: Jus Hadiya Age: 44 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: ms How do you describe your identity?  female How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Open with ones sexuality. Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? It’s been a while…good vibes Past or present, […]

Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a GenderFluid Child

Allegheny County Lesbian

  Name: Viva Valezz! (aka Dre’) Age: 49 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  female How do you describe your identity? I am an old school lesbian… You can call me dyke if you’re my age. We earned that.  You can also call me gay or queer.  I’m also half-Mexican, so I also identify as Mexican-American. And… I’m a mom. […]

Alyssa is First Generation Cuban American, Trans, Gender-Nonconforming and From Beaver County #AMPLIFY

trans gender nonconforming Beaver county

Name:  Alyssa Age: 26 County of Residence: Beaver is where I grew up. I also lived in Allegheny County. I currently Live in Chicago,IL Preferred Pronouns: They/Them How do you describe your identity? I am a first generation Cuban American. I am Trans Gender-Nonconforming. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you […]

Heather Refuses To Marginalize Herself As a Bisexual Woman #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Bisexual

Name:  Heather Age: 40 County of Residence:  Allegheny, formerly Washington County Preferred Pronouns:  she How do you describe your identity? I’m white, bisexual, female, italian-american, monogamous, a wife, and a mother. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was villified by my family for being good friends with […]