Bill, 52, is a Gay Man Living in a Small Town in Cambria County #AMPLIFY

Gay Cambria County

  Name: Bill Age:  52 County of Residence: Cambria, formerly Indiana Preferred Pronouns: he, him How do you describe your identity? A white gay man who is not butch or fem. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I never formally came out to most family members. Over time it became […]

Patricia, 41, Does Not Feel Safe As a Trans Woman in Her Urban Pgh Suburb #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Trans Woman

Name: Patricia Age: 41 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Washington Preferred Pronouns: She/Her How do you describe your identity? At some point, the mental switch flipped in my head firmly into a “female” identity. (I think it was always set to “female” but I was trying to force it to say “male”!) So I identify as a trans woman. I […]

Mariah, 38, Wants More Support for Westmoreland LGBTQ Neighbors #AMPLIFY

westmoreland lesbian

Name: Mariah Age: 38 County of Residence:  Westmoreland, formerly Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Not sure How do you describe your identity? Well I’m A White Female and I Don’t Really label myself I love who I love Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? When I Came Out Fully I had support […]

Norman, 67, is a Gay Black Male of African Descent #AMPLIFY

Gay Black Pittsburgh

Name:  Norman Age:  67 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: he/his/him How do you describe your identity? gay (same gender loving) Black male of African Descent Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out experience happened in the late 60’s with my sisters when I was in my […]

Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists #AMPLIFY

Trans Pittsburgh

Name:  Wes Age: 44 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? queer transman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  When it occurred to me that transmen exist I spared no time figuring out what I had to do. Since I was […]

Lisa Believes Being Out and Honest is ‘Like Flying’ #AMPLIFY

lesbian washington county

Name: Lisa Age: 34 County of Residence: Washington Preferred Pronouns: Feminine pronouns. She, her, etc. How do you describe your identity? White, female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 31 and I was married to a man at the time. I faced so much ridicule and […]

Sueno, 33, Adds Her Particular Color of the Rainbow to the #AMPLIFY Narrative

queer poc pittsburgh

  Name: Sueño Age: 33 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? Queer poc. I feel it encompasses the whole range of the “rainbow”, and doesn’t pin me into box. I used to identify as a lesbian, then felt like I had forsaken my whole identity when I developed real feelings for a […]

Maggio, 28, is Unapologetically a Bi-sexual Queer Feminist Scholar #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Butler County Bisexual

Name:  Maggio Age: 28 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Butler Preferred Pronouns: She/Queen How do you describe your identity? I am a bi-sexual queer feminist scholar. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? For as long as I remember I was attracted to girls. In middle school I started explaining to […]

Ben, 29, is Proud to be a Queer Pittsburgher #AMPLIFY

Gay Pittsburgh

Name: Ben Stoviak Age: 29 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He/They How do you describe your identity? Queer, gay, male-bodied; I like to think of myself as a lover above these things, though, and like to remind people that I’m many more things than this—I’m a teacher, professional, creative, son, brother, adventurer, and friend. Please describe your coming out […]

Trans Day of Visibility in Pittsburgh

Beginning in 2009, March 31 has been recognized as the International Day of Trans Visibility. In the spirit of the day, I am sharing the AMPLIFY posts from trans identified contributors. To date, we have published 25 contributions from trans contributors, representing about 21% of our contributors. They have ties to at least 13 of […]