Jason, 38, Talks About Workplace Discrimination as a White Gay Man #AMPLIFY

white gay male Pittsburgh

  Marriage equality is great, but it has overshadowed our greater fight. Name:  Jason Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny, raised in Warren, Warren County, PA; lived in North Haledon, NJ and Bay Shore, NY (Long Island) Pronouns: gay male How do you describe your identity? white gay male Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? […]

Bill, 62, is a Gay Man Being Visible in Mercer County #AMPLIFY

Gay Man Mercer County

   I remember in New Castle the highest paying factory job was impossible for gay men to get because they relied on reference only from people who already worked there and there was an understanding among them that they wouldn’t give a positive reference to a gay man. Name: Bill Age: 62 County of Residence: Mercer County, formerly […]

Ian, 27, is a Gay Trans Man Resisting Gender Expectations #AMPLIFY

Gay trans man Pittsburgh

What is your greatest hope for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania? 

I hope for progress honestly. I hope people don’t see inclusiveness as a burden but a part of life. Being inclusive isn’t restricting straight cis people, it’s about not limiting life to just them

Stephen, 36, is a Gay Male Gaymer in Armstrong County #AMPLIFY

Gay Man Armstrong County

  Name: Stephen Wade Age: 36 County of Residence: Armstrong County, formerly Allegheny County Pronouns: Him How do you describe your identity? Gay Married Male Video Gaymer. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to most of my friends when I was 14 and a Freshman in High […]

Eric, 35, is a Gay Man Who Has Learned to Live With Microaggressions #AMPLIFY

Name: Eric Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: He/Him How do you describe your identity? Gay Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Many. I was raised in a small town in Ohio. Most people come from a Christian background and not a particularly liberal one. I was lucky enough […]

Paul, 61, Marched in Pittsburgh’s First Gay Pride March in 1973 #AMPLIFY

Paul Ellis Pittsburgh

Note: Paul was part of a USA Today story about Gay Pride which is how I learned about his role in a significant moment in Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ history – the 1973 Gay Pride March. Paul Ellis has seen a lot of Gay Pride parades. He marched in Pittsburgh’s first one in 1973 with just 40 other […]

Rain, 42, is a Gay Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Name: Rain Age: 42 County of Residence: Allegheny, previously Washington County. Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity?  i am gay Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? my mother has not spoken to me for almost 20 years as a result, though she has known since i was 13. my […]

Joseph, 28, is a HIV+ queer and gay man in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

A HIV+ queer and gay man Pittsburgh

  Name: Joseph Onstott Age:  28 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: he/him/his they/their How do you describe your identity? A HIV+ queer and gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I feel like straight people have this idea in their head that it’s an overnight process when it is anything […]

Nina Wyley Has Been Found and She’s Safe

Very good news in the disappearance of Seleana ‘Nina’ Wyley – she has been located and is reported to be safe. She made contact with family friends. I do not have any details or specifics, but we do have this confirmation from local LGBTQ activist Amber Sloan from M.A.D.E. IT Pittsburgh.  

Reece, 31, Grew up in Southern Virginia, but Found LGBTQ Connections in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Name: Reece Age:  31 County of Residence:  Allegheny, formerly Butler County.  Lived prior to that in Southern Virginia. Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? Mostly gay. Most of my life I identified as bisexual. A lot of guys come out as bisexual to “soften the blow” for when they later come out as gay. That […]