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, […]

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 […]

Northside Food Pantry Launches Food Drive Blitz To Meet Holiday Needs

The food pantry hosted by Northside Common Ministries on Brighton Road is the largest pantry in Western Pennsylvania. Each month, they distribute food to over 1,000 families and households in the Northside zip codes. The pantry is set up in a ‘shopping model’ which allows clients to select the items they prefer from whatever is […]

Christmas Spirit Trumps Scrooge In Pittsburgh

Bill Peduto Toys for Tots

Yesterday, the Marines kicked-off a two-day ‘Open House’ for families throughout the region who wanted to access the Toys for Tots donations. This annual distribution is open to members of the community who have the necessary paperwork and the means to get to the Strip District location, as well as to transport their items home. […]

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 […]

Jazmine, 46, Has Advice for LGB Allies to the Trans Community #AMPLIFY

Trans Allegheny County

Name: Jazmine Age: 46 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She, her, woman, female, Queen! How do you describe your identity? I was adopted so don’t know my ethnic background. I am a heterosexual female. HIV + Trans woman who often regrets transitioning now that I’m older. Seems things such as relationships would be easier and life less lonely had […]

Holiday Toy Distribution in Pittsburgh 2015

Behind the scenes, this information is some of the most frequently sought from my blog this time of year. So I’m going to make it as accessible as possible. There are two major two distributions that are open to the public. Play It Forward will distribute gently used toys, books and similar items on Saturday […]

Ten Holiday Things To Do In Pittsburgh

I Made It! For the Holidays

I’ve made these lists up in the past, filled with big plans and remorse over what I didn’t accomplish. Still, here we are on December 1 once again and I’m giving it the good try. Here’s my list of things to do in Pittsburgh this year to celebrate the holidays. Or at least things I […]

Cavanaugh, 25, Talks About Genderflux Identity and the Value of Self-Care #AMPLIFY

queer Pittsburgh

Name: Cavanaugh Age: 25 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  They or He How do you describe your identity? Queer, Afrolatin@, fat, trans, polyglam femme. Tenderqueer. I recently heard the word “genderflux” and I really love it. The idea is that my gender, and by extension my presentation, is sometimes a really, really loud version of itself and sometimes […]