Marissa, 22, is a Trans Woman in Washington County #AMPLIFY

Washington County transgender

Name: Marissa Age: 22 County of Residence: Washington County Pronouns: n/a How do you describe your identity? I am female but I am transgender Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was transgender ever since birth and I found support from my family and the challenges I have faced was […]

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 […]

Occasional Ask for Donations

Occasional Ask for Donations

Remember, my blog is not a source of income. No one covers my expenses to do all this thinking and ask these questions except me (and Ledcat). So if you are feeling the impact of the work we do, you can chip in to help us continue. You can donate directly to AMPLIFY or the […]

Anger & Disappointment: Statements From People Who Attended the Meeting with Turahn Jenkins

The compiled public statements from multiple LGBTQ folks and allies who attended the meeting Friday afternoon with candidate for District Attorney Turahn Jenkins. You can read my summary of the meeting in this post. Here I am simply signal boosting the words of the individuals who were part of the meeting. I do not have […]

Keisha Wells of Cleveland is 14th Trans Person Killed in 2018

Just hours after writing about Cathalina Christina James’ homicide in Jacksonville, FL comes word of another sister whose life was taken. 58 year old Keisha Wells of Cleveland was found dead on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland early in the morning of Sunday, June 24. Please note that the primary source uses Keisha’s deadname as does […]

Cathalina Christina James is 13th Trans Person Murdered in 2018

Cathalina Christina James

24-year-old Cathalina Christina James was a Black trans woman from Sumter, South Carolina. On Sunday, June 24, she became the 13th trans person murdered this year in the United States.  More at Transgriot.  Cathalina was found shot dead at the Quality Inn and Suites located in the 8300 block of Dix Ellis Trail on Sunday […]

Brian, 32, is Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer in Westmoreland County #AMPLIFY

Name: Brian Kleber Age:  32 County of Residence:  Westmoreland County Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs How do you describe your identity? Trans nonbinary masculine presenting queer sexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I originally came out as a cis-gender lesbian because I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling […]

Madi Scull, 20, Identifies as a Nonbinary, Asexual Lesbian #AMPLIFY

Name:  Madi Scull Age: 20 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Nonbinary asexual lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Coming out experiences are hard to describe because it is never just one experience. It’s a series of interactions that you have to have with […]

#AMPLIFY Receives $4,000 Grant for Rural Outreach in Southwestern PA

We are very excited to announce that #AMPLIFY has been awarded $4000 by the Three Rivers Community Foundation to support outreach and visibility throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our plans include teaming up with local partners in the following counties to organize individual outreach events throughout the rest of 2018: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, […]

Lange, 41, is a Queer Single-Parent in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Mt. Lebanon Queer Single Mother

Name: Lange Age: 41 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity?  Queer Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I first came out to my friends and family as bisexual between the ages of 13 and 15. I can’t say there was a whole lot of […]