QT is a 28 year old cis, white, queer female with ties to rural Western Pennsylvania #AMPLIFY

Armstrong Allegheny Cambria Indiana counties

As someone who does not get clocked as LGBT, i hear a lot of very negative talk at work, from people who are very anti lgbt and unaware that I’m part of the community Name: QT Age:  28 County of Residence: Allegheny, previously Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Cis white queer female […]

Madelyne, 19, Shares Her Story as a Lesbian Growing Up in Johnstown #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Johnstown

It’s important to hear multiple coming out stories and just listen for a while before assuming you know everything. Once you hear some stories, ask those individuals what you can do to help. Name: Madelyne “Maddie” Moore Age: 19 County of Residence: Cambria Pronouns: She/Her/Her’s How do you describe your identity? A happy lesbian Please describe your […]

#AMPLIFY Receives $4,000 Grant for Rural Outreach in Southwestern PA

We are very excited to announce that #AMPLIFY has been awarded $4000 by the Three Rivers Community Foundation to support outreach and visibility throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our plans include teaming up with local partners in the following counties to organize individual outreach events throughout the rest of 2018: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, […]

Ben, 30, Wants All Gay White Men to Learn To Take a Step Back #AMPLIFY

  Name: Ben Age: 30 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Cambria (Johnstown) Pronouns: he/him How do you describe your identity? gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Well in high school I found myself attracted to other guys in school over any girls, but I didn’t think much of […]

Chica Discusses Her Bisexuality to Show Solidarity #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Bisexual Woman

What motivated you to take part in this project? Looking up Bisexuality support groups in Pittsburgh because I have some things I’d like to talk and share and get advice about. But not finding anything. Something led me to this online. Thank you for listening!

Femme Lesbian Heather Wants to Build Family in Rural Cambria County #AMPLIFY

  Name:  Heather Age: 41 County of Residence:  Cambria, formerly Indiana County Preferred Pronouns: I’m a she, her, girl How do you describe your identity? I’m a white femme lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was 20 years old and living with my first girlfriend, and I […]

UPDATED! How To Sign Up for Toys for Tots in Western Pennsylvania – 2016 Edition

Toys for Tots Pennsylvania

Here’s my annual roundup of toy distribution resources for Western Pennsylvania. Many Toys for Tots enrollment deadlines are right around the corner while other sites have not yet posted. Please share this information with anyone you know who may need assistance with toys this holiday season.

I will update this post as more information becomes available.

Delilah, 31, Find Trans Community on Twitter #AMPLIFY

Transgender Cambria County

Name: Delilah Age: 31 County of Residence:  Cambria, Indiana, Lancaster, Dauphin, and some others in the Commonwealth that escape me at the moment. Preferred Pronouns: she, her, mademoiselle, and other female pronouns How do you describe your identity? I identify as a trans woman. To a lesser extent, I identify as a lesbian. I say to a lesser extent because […]

Latinx Perspective on the #AMPLIFY Project

Latinx Western Pennsylvania

Yesterday, we published a terrific #AMPLIFY contribution from Chi Chi who is a 47 year queer Latina living in Pittsburgh. Chi Chi is from Panama, but grew up about a mile from where I grew up – we went to different schools and never met. Until #AMPLIFY. We have plans to meet in person next […]

Dave On Coming Out and Being Out in Cambria County #AMPLIFY

Gay Cambria County

Editor’s Note: This post contains content about adults sexually abusing children. While we completely disagree with framing such contact as consensual, we recognize that this is a lived experience for many of our contributors. Survivors make their own survival choices; I condemn the adults involved, not the children. We have included information on where to […]