Dakota, 27, Wants You to Support Queer Activists & Queer Art #AMPLIFY

Describe your geographical community. 

“Pittsburgh is an urban community that is mostly LGBTQ-friendly, but I’ve found that’s often on a surface level… which I think is true for the way Pittsburgh appeals to lots of minoritized groups. There are community spaces for queer folks, medical providers who cater to our specific needs, nonprofits dedicated to our causes, and local businesses owned by members of the community. But it often feels like Pittsburgh’s blue-collar roots are at odds with contemporary queer community-building. Queer folks, to me, feel very disparate and broken up into cliques — sort of how the city is split up into so many tiny neighborhoods. As I write this answer, I’m realizing that I don’t think I’ve ever let my guard down to feel like my full self in any of the five years I’ve been living in Western PA.”

Tara, 24, is a Femme, Queer Human #AMPLIFY

Name:  Tara Foran Age: 24 County of Residence: Philadelphia, formerly Allegheny County Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Femme queer.  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out when I was 17. At the time, I was witnessing a shift in the way the people around me […]

Rachel, 24, Asks Where Are Our Out, Queer Women Role Models in Pittsburgh? #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer Woman

Name:  Rachel Age: 24 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Gender identity: cis female, sexual orientation: queer, race: white. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  I sort of subconsciously knew I was queer from a young age. I remember being enamored with a […]

Tracey, 58, is a Queer Mother Parenting Nonbinary Children #AMPLIFY

queer washington county

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

Living my truth, parenting non-binary children, wanting to do the best for my family and my clients.

Dave, 33, Identifies as a Queer, recovering Gay White Man #AMPLIFY

Gay Allegheny County

Name: Dave Hutchinson Age: 33 County of Residence: Allegheny County Pronouns: Any of the three sets – I’ve been in different contexts where each one made sense and felt right. How do you describe your identity?  Queer, recovering Gay White Man™ Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out in […]

Morgan, 31, is a Black, Bisexual, Queer, Polyamorous Woman & Mother #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh polyamorous bisexual queer

Name: Morgan Age: 31 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I am a black, bisexual, queer, polyamorous woman and mother. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to the “general public” in a long Facebook post after the Orlando tragedy in 2016. […]

Carmen is 42, Bisexual, and Resonates With Genderfluid Identity #AMPLIFY

Name: Carmen Age: 42 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, formerly Beaver County; Mobile, AL Pronouns: He, him, his How do you describe your identity?  I am white and bisexual (which I mean in the most inclusive sense). For most of my life, I have seen myself as a cisgender male. But over the past year or so, I feel like […]

Jamaica, 41, is Bisexual and Wants the Pgh Queer Community to Have a Voice #AMPLIFY

Name:  Jamaica Age: 41 County of Residence: Allegheny County, I have lived in OH, MN, CA, TX, NY, NC, WA and MT but never anywhere other than in Allegheny County during my PA tenures. Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I’m a cis white girl and feminine in the way that a cross between Cyndi Lauper and […]

Luna, 25, is a Poly, Gender fluid, Queer Performance Artist #AMPLIFY

As part of our partnership with FIERCE! International Queer Burlesque, #AMPLIFY will be featuring some of the performers this week. Today, we hear from Luna La Creme who is scheduled to perform at the Friday evening showcase, 7 PM. Tickets still available. Burlesque and queer performing arts are an important part of our community heritage. Name: Luna La […]

Katie, 25, Identifies as Puerto Rican, White, Cis-Female and Lesbian #AMPLIFY

What motivated you to take part in this project? I love surveys. I love when marginalized people are asked to share their stories. I love reading all the stories and remembering how diverse this world is. I love being a part of something bigger than myself.