Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Monday is #LGBTQFamilies Day on social media, sponsored by the blog Mombian and the Family Equality Council since 2006. This day celebrates LGBTQ families. Once again, I’ve decided to share #AMPLIFY posts highlighting the voices of parents, step-parents  and grandparents and other caretakers of children.  If you are a LGBTQ person with ties to Western Pennsylvania, please add your voice to this archive. 

The name of this project has been updated to encourage participants who are not bloggers. #LGBTQFamiliesDay is meant to bring together people who are LGBTQ as well as our families and allies. It’s a celebration of LGBTQ families whether you’re part of one, know one, or just want to support them. (via event organizer Mombian) Please follow the link to read all of the blog posts and social media content honoring our LGBTQ families.

I have been collecting Q&A responses from LGBTQ folks with ties to Western Pennsylvania. The project is called #AMPLIFY and we plan to continue seeking Q&A contributions through at least the end of 2020. Participants are 18+, identify as part of the LGBTQ community and have ties to Western Pennsylvania.

We ask a lot of (mostly) open-ended questions about their identities and experiences. We do not ask any questions specifically about their family status, but many of them mention the fact that they are parenting in the context of one or more of the questions. About 20% of the contributors are parents. Please note that our project was on a five month hiatus in 2018 because I was recovering from a hysterectomy so the slower growth in contributions is tied to that.

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If you appreciate our blogging, please consider a contribution

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For my contribution to the annual Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day project, I decided the best thing to do is to amplify their Q&A posts. Please read as many as you like and absorb some of the wisdom and wit they have to share. Please note that I included people I know to be parenting or grandparenting. I did not necessarily include everyone who is a caretaker for a child. If I left anyone out, I apologize. Feel free to reach out to me and I’ll update.

One thing I want to add this year is that some of our contributors do not have relationships with their adult and/or young children. This type of family rejection from an adult child toward a parent isn’t often explored, but I think it is worth reflection. They don’t stop being parents because of that rejection and a few of our posts will explore those topics.

1. Rae, 48, is a Pansexual Trans Woman Living in Allegheny County
2. He’s a cisgender polyamorous bisexual guy, but nobody asks
3. Laura, 42, is a Bisexual Mom in Pittsburgh 
4. Tracey, 58, is a Queer Mother Parenting Nonbinary Children 
5. Morgan, 31, is a Black, Bisexual, Queer, Polyamorous Woman & Mother
6. Bobbi Jo, 63, is a Transgender Lesbian in Indiana County
7. Angie, 32: Out, Loud, and Proud Black Pansexual Mom
8. Amy is Bi in Pittsburgh But Not Really Out
9. Joel, 35, is Gay, a Trans Guy, Polyamorous, Christian, Parent, & Husband 
10. Krissy, 34, Talks About Step Parenting as a Bisexual Woman 
11. Angela is a Queer Mother & Intersectional Feminist
12. Caiolin, 56, is Just Another Woman Who Happens To Be Trans 
13. James, 54, Is a Gay Pittsburgh Dad Living in Texas
14. Laura, 44, is a Lesbian Mom in Fayette County 
15. Janet, 66, is Bisexual, Cisgender and Gender Nonconforming
16. Caitlyn 51, Lives Her Authentic Self as a Trans Woman in Erie 
17. Jamie, 52, Celebrates the Queer Tribe Rising
18. Jay, 33, Says Stories Are Part of Queer Liberation
19. Cheryl, 42, Wants Us To See Everyone in the LGBTQ Community
20. Eileen, 52, Reflects on the Awakening of Her LGBTQ Community
21. Kim, 40, Mother, Pansexual and Mexican-American in Washington County
22. Camellia, 30, is a Lesbian, Soon-to-be Wife, and Momma 
23. Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists
24. Sara, 28, Single Mom, Agnostic Jew, and Queer in Ohio
25. Jay, 54, Considers His Gay Identity Both Now and The
26. For Jodi’s Kids, Having Two Mothers Is Just a Fact of Life
27. Kim, 44, Say She Lost Her Job in Beaver County Because She’s a Lesbian
28. Alissa, 34, is Just Another Girl in the Crowd in Lawrence County
29. De, 49, is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA
30. Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a Gender Fluid Child
31. Heather Refuses to Marginalize Herself as a Bisexual Woman
32. Dinah Denmark: Lesbian, Jewish, Buddhist
33. Kathi Wants To Connect with LGBTQ Elders in Rural Communities
34. Shaquanna Wants Families to Have Positive Conversations With LGBTQ Relatives
35. Jeff Hopes the LGBTQ Community Will Embrace a Common Queer Identity
36. Jess is a Lesbian Mother Who Wants More Family Friendly Resources
37. Diane Discusses Being Belligerently Out in Pittsburgh
38. Anonymous Grieves How Pittsburgh’s Gay and Lesbian Community Treats Bisexuals
39. Maria Wants You To Know a Family Like Hers #AMPLIFY
40. Lyndsey Identifies as a Queer Genderfluid Lipstuck Butch
41. Alex is a Black Trans Man Who Doesn’t Apologize For His Existence
42. David Talks About the State of Equality in Erie
43. Bee Asks Where Single Parents Fit Into the LGBTQ Community
44. Vic Lives Closeted in Westmoreland County
45. Gary Has Lived in Northwest and Southwest PA As An Openly Gay Man
46. Paula Speaks Out About Bi-Erasure and Bisexual Exclusion
47. Joy KMT Values Intersectional Healing Spaces
48. Gina Shares Her Truth With Those Who Deserve To Know
49. Donna Met a Female Impersonator Who Made a Lasting Impression
50. Joyce Believes Tolerance Is Not Acceptance

If you or someone you know is an LGBTQ identified person 18 or older with ties to Western Pennsylvania, please ask them to share their story with this archive. The form is here.

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If you would like to read our previous years’ contributions

2017 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 40 Parents Share Their Experiences

2016 – #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 29 Parents Share Their Experiences

2014 – Summertime Traditions For Our LGBTQ Family

2013 – Blogging Because We Are Family!

2012 – Being an Advocate: 7th Annual Blogging for LGBT Families

2011 – Blogging for LGBT Families 2011 – Don’t Devalue the Aunties

2010 – Pittsburgh LGBTQ Families – a Blog Post

2009 – Blogging for LGBT Families in Pennsylvania