Roman Knows to the Depths of His Soul That He Is a Man #AMPLIFY

Pennsylvania Transgender

  Name: Roman Barker Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns:  He/Him/Sir How do you describe your identity? I am a Caucasian male Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I started out telling my mom I was “bi” – first you have to understand that my mom […]

Big Burrito Group Updates Trans Inclusive Language

Big Burrito Transgender

You may recall earlier in the year we reported that the folks at Big Burrito had made an ill-conceived attempt at humor by referencing Caitlyn Jenner in their “celebrity” portion of their menu at the Mad Mex restaurants. After backlash from the community, Chef Bill Fuller and his team pulled the menu and issued an […]

Diane Discusses Being Belligerently Out in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Pittsburgh

Name: Diane Age:  57 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: I don’t care what other people say. How do you describe your identity? I don’t bother to define it or claim any term. People can think/say whatever they want. I don’t feel responsible for what’s in other people’s heads. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you […]

Scott Describes Life As a Middle-Aged Gay Bear in Rural Armstrong County

Gay Armstrong County

Name:  Scott Age: 48 County of Residence: Armstrong Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His How do you describe your identity? A gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My mother found a photo of me kissing a guy while snooping in my room. My parents response was that they can’t control what […]

UPDATED: Allegheny County Will Terminate Domestic Partner Benefits on June 30

Allegheny County Pennsylvania

As we explored last year, Allegheny County plans to eliminate domestic partner benefits for LGBTQ employees effective June 30, 2015. Heterosexual employees were never offered access to these benefits. From the County Communications Director, Amie Downs: [This] is correct and those employees will be reminded/given notice again of the policy. Eliminating domestic partner benefits is […]

Erie is the 7th Queerest City in the US According to The Advocate

Queerest Cities

Satire Warning. This is not, I repeat this is not a statistically accurate analysis of queer friendliness. It is, however, an interesting glimpse at some non-traditional locations in the nation. You may have noticed in previous years that some local LGBTQ groups in Pittsburgh were ecstatic about our ranking among the “LGBT Friendliest Cities” in […]

Don’t Ask Me To Extend an Olive Branch Unless You Have Your Facts Right UPDATED

Dove

Bruce Barron, a Pittsburgh resident and former staffer for Rick Santorum, penned a loathsome piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette requesting that the LGBTQ community offer Christians an olive branch. He’s suggesting that we allow Christian business owners “conscientious objector” status with regard to discriminating against LGBTQ persons in private business matters. Like baking wedding cakes. […]

UPDATED: PA State House Candidate Throws Down the Anti-Trans Card

Transgender Bathroom

In a move not surprising but still ugly, the PA Family Council sent out campaign literature for candidate for State House Jason Ortitay distorting HB 300 to paint his opponent, incumbent Rep Jesse White, as a threat to civilized society. White represents the 46th House District which includes portions of both Allegheny and Washington counties. […]

Post-Gazette Ignores Trans Community When It Comes To Discrimination

When I saw the headline “Jurassic Legislature: As gays marry, lawmakers won’t protect their rights” I cringed. I thought to myself as I opened the link “please let them get it right, please let them get it right.” BOOM. They got it so very wrong. The poor performance of the state Legislature has a number […]

Pgh City Council Votes to Update Trans Non-Discrimination Protections

  Something very interesting took place in Pittsburgh City Council today – they directly addressed a matter of transgender municipal equality for the first time in history. The issue is non-discrimination which Pittsburgh City Council first took up as far back as the late 1980’s. In 1990, the City amended the Human Relations Ordinance to […]