PA State Human Relations Commission Expands Discrimination Classes to Include Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity

Pennsylvania discrimination

This is a pretty significant move, but please note that this is NOT the same thing as the General Assembly passing legislation. Like the other two statewide rights (marriage equality and second parent adoption) for LGBTQ people, this has not come from our elected officials in the General Assembly. The Commission issued a guidance that […]

Hutch, 57, Marched With Harvey Milk and Knows We Have Miles To Go #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Bisexual Man

Name:  Hutch Age: 57 County of Residence:  Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Pronouns: Male How do you describe your identity? Bi Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was kind of out in mid 70s in Massachusetts. But officially came out at 16 when I moved to San Francisco in […]

Jenkins Campaign Gaslights Trans Women, Black Trans Women in Defense of His Anti-LGBTQ Beliefs

Turahn Jenkins Homophobic

Sunday morning in Pittsburgh. Candidate for Allegheny County District attorney Turahn Jenkins gaslights trans women of color in particular for the ‘social media reports of my faith equating to a bias or phobia.’  This is his response to reports out of the meeting he held with LGBTQ folks on Friday. The Christian faith community he chose, in […]

Allegheny County DA Candidate Turahn Jenkins Says LGBTQ People are Sinful

This afternoon, candidate Turahn Jenkins met with representatives from the LGBTQ community to discuss concerns about his affiliation with a church that has a stated belief that homosexuality is sinful. These concerns were part of a dialogue that took place earlier in the week on my Facebook timeline. I’ve confirmed with four sources that Mr. […]

Brian, 32, is Trans, Nonbinary, and Queer in Westmoreland County #AMPLIFY

Name: Brian Kleber Age:  32 County of Residence:  Westmoreland County Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs How do you describe your identity? Trans nonbinary masculine presenting queer sexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I originally came out as a cis-gender lesbian because I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling […]

Read These Northside #AMPLIFY Stories

Pittsburgh map - Northside highlighted in pink

We are in the midst of a fundraiser to organize AMPLIFY outreach throughout the 18 neighborhoods of the Northside. This will include working with the GSA at Perry Traditional Academy and other community groups. Now the Q&A does not ask about specific neighborhoods; we simply ask people to identity their county affiliations. But some people […]

Local LGBTQ Links We Are Reading – June 16, 2018

This semi-regular feature compiles 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. Here we go … fair warning, that I am not linking the Pridefest stories. Also, not linking to stories about decals on police […]

Amplify LGBTQ Voices from Pittsburgh’s Northside Because We Believe In Our Back Yards

We have a very special opportunity right now to receive a 100% match from the Buhl Foundation for a one-time hyperlocal AMPLIFY blitz. This is an extension of the One Northside project. A few weeks ago, I was asked to identify LGBTQ resources on the Northside – from any or all of the 18 neighborhoods. […]

Q&A with Erika Strassburger, Candidate for Pgh City Council District 8

Erika Strassburger yard sign

The Special Election to fill the City Council seat for District 8, formerly held by Dan Gilman is many things. It is a contested election with Democratic, Republican, and Independent contenders. It is a race full of big ideas on everything from pothole repairs to clean water and rent control. It is also a genuine […]

Nina Wyley Has Been Found and She’s Safe

Very good news in the disappearance of Seleana ‘Nina’ Wyley – she has been located and is reported to be safe. She made contact with family friends. I do not have any details or specifics, but we do have this confirmation from local LGBTQ activist Amber Sloan from M.A.D.E. IT Pittsburgh.