Lela Wants Bisexual Voices To Be Heard #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Bisexual

Name: Lela Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny. I’ve lived in a few states, but was born and raised (and now currently reside) in Pittsburgh. Preferred Pronouns: She, her. How do you describe your identity? Caucasian, Italian, Bisexual, Woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out as bisexual at 15. […]

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, […]

A Thank You From Persad & SAGE for Your Gifts to LGBTQ Elders

A message from Kathi Boyle with the Persad SAGE project. It was a wonderful day with the Westmoreland LGBTQ Senior Group! A generous donor gave Persad a gift specifically to allow us to get these folks together at least every other month for a meal and socializing.  The day started with pick-ups in Apollo, Vandergrift […]

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 […]

Why The Success of #AMPLIFY Has Left Me Discouraged

AMPLIFY Pittsburgh

I waited all day yesterday to learn if we were going to receive a $1000 grant for the AMPLIFY project, funds that would be used to turn my 2000 CRV into an art car to promote the project. Unfortunately, we did not secure the grant. We lost – just one of 84 applicants rejected for […]

Mark, 29, Talks About Gay Stereotypes in Pittsburgh

Name: Mark Age: 29 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? Male Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? When I was 18 to one of my close friends. She had actually been under the impression that I was “100% hetero” and I had to set […]

Ade is Pansexual, Androgynous and Finds Comfort in Their UU Community #AMPLIFY

Monroeville queer

Name:  Ade Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland and Crawford Preferred Pronouns: I’m not picky, but I appreciate “they” or other neutral pronouns How do you describe your identity? pansexual, androgynous (non-binary and genderqueer also work), white, pagan, neuro-atypical Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I told a […]

Dinah Denmark: Lesbian, Jewish, Buddhist. #AMPLIFY

Dinah Denmark

Name: Dinah Denmark Age: 53 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: I don’t use them generally How do you describe your identity? Lesbian. Jewish. Buddhist. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was 1981, I was 18 years old. My college roommate and I fell in love. Fortunately, I had relatively […]

Reach OUT for the Holidays: Supporting LGBTQ Elders

  Once again, we are teaming up with the SAGE program at Persad Center to support LGBTQ elders who may not have strong family support during the holiday season. Some adults in the program struggle to meet their day to day needs because of limited incomes and resources. Homophobia, transphobia and racism in their community […]