Dani Janae, 23, Identifies as a Black Femme Lesbian Poet & Trauma Survivor #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County lesbian

Name: Dani Janae Age: 23 County of Residence:  Allegheny, attended college in Crawford County Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I identify as a black femme lesbian, poet, trauma survivor. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out process was gradual. I started by self-identifying as […]

117 Ways to Describe LGBTQ Identity

We ask contributors this question “Please describe your identity.” No checkboxes. No drop down menu. No predetermined categories. Just an open-ended question and a text field for people to write their response. 117 people have responded thus far (110 published, the others in the ‘to be published’ queue.) As you can see, each person wrote […]

Jay, 54, Considers His Gay Identity Both Now and Then #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Gay

Name:  Jay Age: 54 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: he How do you describe your identity? father, gay male, spiritual and social worker Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to friends and family my first year of college. The friends I hung around in high […]

Ama, 30, is a Girl Who Likes Girls and Who Likes Guys #AMPLIFY

AMPLIFY

Name: Ama Age: 30 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Fayette County Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I’m American. And I’m Irish. I’m an Irish Catholic (quite the distinction from an Italian, Hispanic, or Spanish Catholic). I’m a girl who likes other girls and who likes guys and many trans variations. I am a lover of beauty […]

Austin, 30, is a Straight Trans Man from Washington County #AMPLIFY

Transgender Washington County

Name: Austin Jacob Age: 30 County of Residence:  Washington  County Preferred Pronouns:  He/Him/His How do you describe your identity? I’m an Austrian, Scottish, Irish American Christian UU who is a straight transman. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Coming out the first time as a lesbian was the hardest. […]

For Jodi’s Kids, Having Two Mothers Is Just a Fact of Life #AMPLIFY

Jodi same sex Allegheny County

  Name:  Jodi Hirsh Age: 40 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I’m a white jewish woman in a long-term same sex relationship who is the parent of two kids under 7. I’m very sleepy most of the time. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What […]

Char, 62, is a ‘Very Late Bloomer’ Lesbian in Cambria County #AMPLIFY

  Name: Char Age:  62 County of Residence:  Cambria. Lived in Somerset County during my childhood, until age 21. Preferred Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? Female, woman, lesbian, gay Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out after being in a heterosexual marriage for close to […]

Minion Wants To Talk About What It Means to be a Queer, Black, Futch Leathergirl #AMPLIFY

Leather Community Pittsburgh

  Name: Minion Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Black; cis-gendered; futch; pansexual and panromantic; pagan/afro-spiritual; polyamorous; sapiosexual; leather slave and leather babygirl Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to my mother the spring before I […]

Kim, 44, Says She Lost Her Job in Beaver County Because She’s a Lesbian #AMPLIFY

  Name: Kim Age: 44 County of Residence:  Beaver County. Previously lived in Allegheny and Butler counties. Preferred Pronouns: Ms. How do you describe your identity? White Lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was 16. I told my mother that I was GAY! She said ” I know, I’ve […]

Alissa, 34, Is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County #AMPLIFY

Lawrence County Transgender

Name: Alissa Age: 34 County of Residence:  Lawrence Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I’m a transgender female lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? All of my original support came from friends followed by my family and parents. The challenges I have faced have been working with […]