Rural Pennsylvania Group Hosts First Local LGBTQ Pride Gathering in Elk County

Elk County LGBT Pride

This is how it works – or it should work. A group of local folks create a safe space to celebrate and affirm their LGBTQ neighbors. In this case, a 40-year-old pansexual mother of two set up a visibility event in a park in St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. People came, made connections, joined the Facebook group. […]

Queering the PA Wilds: Day Five

The B&B had other guests so breakfast was engaging.Coffee is okay, but I miss Starbucks so we headed to a local ccoffeehouse, the Creative Cup. Good prices, great coffee. We are heading back tomorrow on our way out of town to load our travel mugs and purchase their coffee.Note – it is a glaring omission […]

Queering the PA Wilds, Day Four

Oh, dear readers still with me in this travelogue, I am a tired correspondent. Some was due to adjusting to an unfamiliar bed, but most is due to the effects of taking a five + hour tour of the Clarion River towns. We were in a car and walking a bit. It was fascinating, but […]

Queering the PA Wilds, Day Three

This was a long one. We checked out of Erie, had a local breakfast, and hit the road traveling on US 60 and PA 59 through the Allegheny Forest into the region known as the PA Wilds.It was basically a long, winding two lane road. We listened to The History Chicks podcast. It took us […]

Vacation. I Wish I’d Stayed (Not Really.)

Vacation Anxiety

It has been ten years since we took a vacation that is purely recreational. We’ve traveled, but it has always been tied to a conference or a work trip or so forth. That’s been fun and interesting, but not always restful or relaxing. Now that I’m away I wish I’d stayed This year, we made […]

Sarah, 38, Talks Transitioning in Her Rural Pennsylvania Community #AMPLIFY

Trans Woman Rural Pennsylvania

Students past and present, parents, and community members spoke out against his hateful rhetoric. It briefly went viral in the surrounding area and I received countless messages of support from strangers and friends alike until he deleted the post and backtracked his statements. Obviously, there are still many people who agree with his position in […]

How to Request Toys for Tots in Western Pennsylvania in 2018

Toys for Tots Pennsylvania

This is our annual (6 years+) round-up of Toys for Tots programs in Western Pennsylvania for 2018. I’ve done my best to sort through the available information and provide you what you may need to know. PLEASE click through to the applicable link to doublecheck the details. Some of the Toys for Tots pages are […]

How to Request Toys for Tots in Western Pennsylvania 2017

Toys for Tots Pennsylvania

This is our annual round-up of Toys for Tots programs in Western Pennsylvania. I’ve done my best to sort through the available information and provide you what you may need to know. PLEASE click through to the applicable link to doublecheck the details. Some of the Toys for Tots pages are harsh and regimented. Others […]

Kelsey, 22, Talks Lesbian Life in Elk County #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Elk County

Name:  Kelsey Age:  22 County of Residence:  Elk County, formerly Jefferson County Pronouns:  Her or she How do you describe your identity?  I’m a white lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to my mom when I was 12. I had a signature on […]

Mindy, 42, Lives Semi-Open as Trans in Rural Elk County #AMPLIFY

Transgender Elk County

Name: Mindy S. Age: 42 County of Residence: Elk County Pronouns: If I look male, then “he”. If I look like a female, then “she”. How do you describe your identity? I am bi-gendered, attracted to cisgender women. Meaning while I can live and be happy with being a male, I have a feminine side that needs to be expressed […]