Lisa Believes Being Out and Honest is ‘Like Flying’ #AMPLIFY

lesbian washington county

Name: Lisa Age: 34 County of Residence: Washington Preferred Pronouns: Feminine pronouns. She, her, etc. How do you describe your identity? White, female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 31 and I was married to a man at the time. I faced so much ridicule and […]

Pixie, 26, is Androgynous, Non-binary, Genderqueer and Lesbian, But Identifies as Pixie #AMPLIFY

Fayette County lesbian

Name: Pixie Colbert Age: 26 County of Residence:  Allegheny, grew up in Fayette County Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them How do you describe your identity? I am a strong-willed, sweet hearted, intelligent, extroverted introvert, androgynous, non-binary, genderqueer, lesbian. I perform drag as Mr. Ace Phoenix. I am not a fan of labels. Period. I feel I can identify as a lot […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

As a Lesbian, Shelly Values Her Ties To Rural Indiana County #AMPLIFY

Indiana County Lesbian

Name: Shelly Age: 33 County of Residence:  Indiana, previously Butler Preferred Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity? I am female, and I feel feminine on the inside. I identify as lesbian, gay, or queer. My outward presentation is much more masculine. I do not feel comfortable in female clothing and prefer to wear men’s clothing. I […]

What Question Should I Have Asked? #AMPLIFY

Pink House

Finally, what question should I have asked?  This is one of my favorite questions in the #AMPLIFY survey. I have used this information to modify the questions as the project has unfolded. As I look over the responses now to consider how to incorporate even more suggestions in to the survey, I thought I would […]

Walter Wants Western PA To Be More Vibrant, Tolerant and Diverse #AMPLIFY

Name: Walter Meyer Age: 52 County of Residence: I was born and raised in Allegheny County and spent time in Centre County while I was at Penn State, and then a year in Somerset County. Since then it has been Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in California. Preferred Pronouns: he, his, him How do you describe your identity? I […]

Erik Is a Cis White Working-Class Queer from Clearfield County

Allegheny Clearfield Gay

  Name: Erik Age: 45 County of Residence: Allegheny. I grew up in Clearfield County, and attended college in Crawford County. Preferred Pronouns: he/him How do you describe your identity? This is evolving – in the sense that years ago, I wouldn’t have attached “cis,” not knowing what that meant – but I’m comfortable identifying as a cis white working-class […]