KK Compares Small Town Michigan to Pittsburgh From a Lesbian Perspective #AMPLIFY

Name: KK Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? I am a Caucasian lesbian How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? 100% Anyone who knows me knows I’m gay. Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? The first person […]

De, 49, Is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Beaver County

Name: De Age: 49 County of Residence: Beaver Preferred Pronouns: Her/She How do you describe your identity? Black lesbian woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came our late in life age 35, i had a few gay male friends that supported me. Since I didn’t have any lesbian friends […]

Joe Was Dragged Out of The Closet As A Young Man #AMPLIFY

Name: Joe Age: 36 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? Gay male.  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Everyone has a different story but for me, I was sort of dragged out of the closet as a young man. I think people […]

Sabrina, 50, Found New Friends When She Came Out As Trans #AMPLIFY

Butler County Transgender

Name: Sabrina Age: 50 County of Residence:  Butler Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Trans female (MtF), heterosexual, white. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was the first person to come out as Transgender at work. I work in a steel mill and the largest […]

Jus Hadiya Wants to Spread Education #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Amplify

  Name: Jus Hadiya Age: 44 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: ms How do you describe your identity?  female How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Open with ones sexuality. Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? It’s been a while…good vibes Past or present, […]

Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a GenderFluid Child

Allegheny County Lesbian

  Name: Viva Valezz! (aka Dre’) Age: 49 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  female How do you describe your identity? I am an old school lesbian… You can call me dyke if you’re my age. We earned that.  You can also call me gay or queer.  I’m also half-Mexican, so I also identify as Mexican-American. And… I’m a mom. […]

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 […]

Elliot is Bi, Trans and Wishes Westmoreland County Was Talking More About Queer Youth

Westmoreland transgender bisexual

Name: Elliot Age: 20 County of Residence: Westmoreland, attends college in Allegheny county Preferred Pronouns: he/him How do you describe your identity? I am a bisexual transgender male Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Most of my friends had said in terms of their sexuality that they “always knew”, but for […]