Jess, 22, is a Poly, Bisexual Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Jess Age:  22 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? cis polyamorous bisexual/queer woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 18 to most people, and overall my friends and family were very supportive. I was very thankful […]

He’s a cisgender polyamorous bisexual guy, but nobody asks #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Just another lawyer Age:  38 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: He/His How do you describe your identity? I generally don’t. It’s the advantage to presenting the way I do: I don’t have to describe anything. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  To a large degree, I never have. See […]

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 […]

RIP Uncle Ron Keck (1935-2018)

This week, I learned that my Uncle Ron (Carl Ronald Keck) died over the weekend. He was 85 years old. I always liked my Uncle Ron. I thought he was funny even when he was using humor to hide some uncharitable thoughts. I thought he was fond of us (my brother and I) because he […]

Nominate Your Pgh Favs for 2018 City Paper ‘Best of Pittsburgh’

The City Paper has changed the schedule for their annual ‘Best of Pittsburgh’ reader awards. Nominations are open now through April 29, 2018.  Nominate by clicking here As a previous winner (2016), I can say how great it is to win. I can also say that it is both boring and distracting for the same […]

Local LGBTQ Links We Are Reading – March 18, 2018

We’ve compiled some links from around the region on LGBTQ themes. It is important to read the information and to pay attention to what your local media is sharing around LGBTQ topics. Best of all, consider submitting your own letter to the editor to your local outlet. For Some Transgender People In Pittsburgh, Accessing Health Care […]

UPMC v Highmark: Chapter 897689

Highmark UPMC

For the past several months, I have been interviewed by reporter Carolyn Johnson for a Washington Post piece on the Pittsburgh healthcare scene. More specifically, she was writing about the impact of two companies ‘stacking’ healthcare insurance with healthcare providers into what we know as UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network. I think vertical integration is the […]

Local LGBTQ Links We’re Reading – February 9, 2018

Here are the LGBTQ related links we’ve been reading this past week. Let us know what we missed. I’m just getting restarted on this feature so I am sure I’ve missed some pieces. Please leave a comment if you know something I should include. A local business owner’s gay son is making an impact in […]