Bi and Demi, Kristen Wants You to Get Uncomfortable With Your Privilege #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Describe your geographical community. Suburban. East of Pgh. Not especially QUILTBAG friendly, no. I wouldn’t talk about going to Pride around here, in Public. I grew up in Pgh, and lived through the ’70s where my mom would party at Pegasus with my godfather and his partner. I lived through the ’80s where my godfather went to too many funerals. I’ve seen the changes, but it still feels like not enough. I visit Canada regularly and it’s just… normal, there, to see businesses advertising to Same-sex couples. To see those couples represent an average family, because they do, numerically.

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. I have a fairly good group of friends and colleagues, but my home area is… Not great and I’ve had some negative experiences with the Pgh community being very white, very cis, very class privileged, very LG dominated and very trans exclusionist. I may be cis, but I’m not going to sit by and ignore that. It’s a little… Lonely. I commute into the city, but coming back in isn’t always easy just to socialize and I’m not in my 20s, clubbing is just not my thing.

Kyle Discusses Privilege & Perception of Gay, White, Cisgender Men #AMPLIFY

gay bisexual cis man Allegheny County

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”?

I am 100% viewed by most as being out as a gay man, which is funny since I have spent most of my adulthood as bi- or pan-sexual (I adopted the pan-sexual identity after first hearing about it). But, I am a cis-gender man who is married to a cis-gender man. Since most people just assume that means I am gay, that is what I am generally seen as. So, I suppose I am “out,” just not everyone knows the full story.

AMPLIFY! Mike Talks About Privileges of Living in Erie as a Gay Man

Mike Mahler Erie

AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will mostly avoid editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to tell us what we’ve missed […]

Hate Crimes, OUTrage and Privilege in Pennsylvania

Let me start with a very clear statement – the assault of two gay men in a Philadelphia neighborhood by a crowd of people was a terrible act of violence and I am very glad that they both survived. I’m also aware that this experience may resonate in their lives for a long time and […]

Do we earn the privilege of being gay?

Do we earn the privilege of being gay?

From today's Post-Gazette, a letter written by Kurt Colborn of Swisshelm Park: I have to agree with Sen. Larry Craig's claim that he is not gay. People have forgotten that “gay” is a term of liberation. Being gay means having the maturity to accept yourself as you are. It also means having the courage to […]

Updates Are People or Spreading My Truth

An update is important, especially when the storyline involves people we value. That’s probably why we love franchise movies so much – we want another chapter, a way to stay connected to characters who are important to us. That includes those who are fast and furious as well as those who avenge us. See what […]

54 Year Old Latina Trans Woman from Washington Kidnapped, Tortured, and Murdered by Estranged Partner, Found in Mexican Cemetery

Reyna Hernandez, a 54-year-old Latina trans woman from Renton, Seattle has been missing for two weeks. On March 8, 20204, locals discovered her body in Mexicali, Mexico. The Content Notes As a result of the brutality involved note this post contains graphic details of violence against a trans woman who did not survive her injuries. […]

2024 Political Q&A with Lindsay Powell: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for PA House District 21

Lindsay Powell. Photo of

I believe this (General Assembly) class is able to bring their full selves to these roles; both their professional and lived experiences to their decision making and community building. I am grateful that we are able to be specific and meaningful in our actions. I’m proud of initiatives like the Black Material Health Caucus, which […]

2024 Political Q&A with Arvind Venkat: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for PA House District 30

I believe this diversity both reflects the strength of Pennsylvania and the opportunity to reflect our changing population in our policies. One example is recognizing Diwali – the Hindu Festival of Lights – under state law. That  is something that is very important to my culture and community, yet would never have been considered without […]

2024 Political Q&A with Summer Lee: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for US House District 12

Summer Lee for Congress

Beyond these fundamental protections, my campaign focuses on meaningful representation for the LGBTQ+ community in politics, warding off a right-wing Supreme Court that could poke holes in LGBTQ rights based on “religious liberty,” and addressing the many disparities that the LGBTQ+ community faces in affordable, inclusive health care. Meet the Candidate This is the next […]