Wendi, 31, Describes Being a Trans Ally in Her Workplace #AMPLIFY

Name: Wendi Age: 31 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Erie Pronouns: Mrs, Her How do you describe your identity? Ummm. I am a lesbian woman. I am white Italian. Wink* Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I officially came out at 16 to my parents after my dad had seen […]

Chica Discusses Her Bisexuality to Show Solidarity #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Bisexual Woman

What motivated you to take part in this project? Looking up Bisexuality support groups in Pittsburgh because I have some things I’d like to talk and share and get advice about. But not finding anything. Something led me to this online. Thank you for listening!

Brandon, 23, Identifies as a Pansexual Genderqueer Male #AMPLIFY

pansexual genderqueer Pittsburgh

Please share a lived experience, anecdote or fact about life as an LGBTQ person in your community. One of my customers at work had recently come out as trans. She hasn’t said anything to me but I saw her dressed in female clothes and was carrying herself different. The second time I saw her I asked what prownouns she preferred and if she had a different preferred name. And she just seemed to be so happy that I had taken the time to ask and respect her as a female.

Angela is a Queer Mother & Intersectional Feminist #AMPLIFY

Name: Angela Age: 28 County of Residence: Allegheny,  formerly Berks, Montgomery, Bucks in PA. Also lived in Rome, Italy, and the SF Bay Area of California Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I am a white cis woman. I am disabled by our society that allows people (mostly who are feminine) to remain chronically ill. I am […]

Tyler, 18, is a Pansexual Trans Man in Erie #AMPLIFY

Name: Ty Age: 18 County of Residence: I’ve lived in Erie, Edinboro, and will be moving to Warren, Pa. Pronouns: He/him/his How do you describe your identity? I am a transgender pansexual male. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? When I came out as a lesbian, I didn’t face any problems. […]

Chris, 40, is an Aspie Queer Girl With Some Kinks #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer

Name: Chris Rickert Age: 40 County of Residence: Allegheny County. Born in upstate NY, moved to Pittsburgh to attend CMU. Never left. Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I’m an Aspie. A queer girl with some kinks. Italian-Scottish-Irish-German. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Coming out was definitely […]

LGBTQ Things To Do in Western PA #AMPLIFY

LGBTQ Things To Do Pittsburgh

Welcome to the second edition of our new feature  – a signal boost to the efforts of our #AMPLIFY contributors to strengthen our communities. Our first post was well received! This list is not all-inclusive or comprehensive, but we’ll do our best to share the items our contributors ask us to promote. If you’d like […]

Bi and Demi, Kristen Wants You to Get Uncomfortable With Your Privilege #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Describe your geographical community. Suburban. East of Pgh. Not especially QUILTBAG friendly, no. I wouldn’t talk about going to Pride around here, in Public. I grew up in Pgh, and lived through the ’70s where my mom would party at Pegasus with my godfather and his partner. I lived through the ’80s where my godfather went to too many funerals. I’ve seen the changes, but it still feels like not enough. I visit Canada regularly and it’s just… normal, there, to see businesses advertising to Same-sex couples. To see those couples represent an average family, because they do, numerically.

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. I have a fairly good group of friends and colleagues, but my home area is… Not great and I’ve had some negative experiences with the Pgh community being very white, very cis, very class privileged, very LG dominated and very trans exclusionist. I may be cis, but I’m not going to sit by and ignore that. It’s a little… Lonely. I commute into the city, but coming back in isn’t always easy just to socialize and I’m not in my 20s, clubbing is just not my thing.

Caiolin, 56, is Just Another Woman Who Happens To Be Trans #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Transgender Women

Name: Caiolin Age: 56 County of Residence: Allegheny County Preferred Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity?  Female, heterosexual, white, Irish German atheist. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I am a trans-woman that transitioned after 30 years of marriage and two children. I had fooled myself for […]

Let’s #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Things To Do in Western PA

Let’s #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Things To Do in Western PA

We have a new feature that we hope will be a regular post on the blog – a signal boost to the efforts of our #AMPLIFY contributors to strengthen our communities. This list is not all-inclusive or comprehensive, but we’ll do our best to share the items our contributors ask us to promote. If you’d […]