Occupational Therapy is a Pain in The Hands

Homeless donation

Last week, I started occupational therapy – I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. I also have a semi-permanent tremor as a side effect of medication that I take. The intersection of hand weakness and hand tremors makes for good times, let me tell you. While surgery can help the carpal tunnel, it can’t […]

Mini-Break in Erie, PA

Lady Kate Erie

When was the last time you felt truly rejuvenated and energized? What made you feel that way? In late August, the AMPLIFY project took us to Erie County for the weekend – we were there to celebrate Erie Pridefest and enjoy a mini-break of sorts. I had never actually been to Erie proper, just driven […]

DJ Scott Is a Gay Black Man Full of Positive Vibes #AMPLIFY

Gay Black Pittsburgh

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

Shawna on Her Unique Experience as a Lesbian in Indiana County #AMPLIFY

LGBT Indiana County

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

Daniel Wants To See More Diverse Employers in Western PA #AMPLIFY

Erie Gay

Note: I’m publishing this a little early because on Wednesday I’ll be traveling to Erie to get ready for Pride! Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are […]

Be Part of the LGBTQ AMPLIFY Q&A Series

Western Pennsylvania LGBTQ

  Saturday morning, the owner of the art gallery where I am an artist in residence was driving in East Liberty. When he pulled up to a redlight, a man on a bicycle stopped to lean in the window and say “You guys rock because of The Amplify!” What struck me is that not only is this random […]

25 Year Old Ashton O’Hara Was Most Recent Transgender Person Reported Murdered in The US

Ashton O'Hara Transgender

It was the community conversation around the murder of Amber Monroe in Detroit earlier this month that brought to light yet another violent crime against a trans person of color. 25 year-old Ashton O’Hara was found brutally murdered in a field on July 12, 2015. Their mother attended the mid-August conversation with praise for the […]

Larry Traces His Coming Out to JFK and A Frat Brother #AMPLIFY

Larry Gay Pittsburgh

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

Jesse Believes in the Power of [Trans]cendence #AMPLIFY

Jesse Trans Pittsburgh

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

TWOC Amber Monroe Murdered in Detroit #SayHerName

Amber Monroe Transgender

Amber Monroe, a 20 year old trans woman of color, was murdered in Detroit this weekend. She’s the 3rd transwoman to be murdered in the past 17 days in the United States. While details are still limited, Equality Michigan released a statement: The body of 20-year old Amber Monroe was found murdered in Detroit this […]