What Do You Want to Know About Your LGBTQ Neighbors?

Amplify LGBTQ

Do you have a burning question about LGBTQ life in Western Pennsylvania? As I’ve been working on the AMPLIFY! LGBTQ project, I’m pondering the types of questions that will get to the heart of the lived experiences of our neighbors – from Waynesburg to Erie. So I’m going to open the floor to you, dear […]

Arrest in the Murder of Pgh Bisexual Man of Color, Andre Gray

Andre Gray

Yesterday came word that the Pittsburgh Police have charged 30-year-old Hubert Wingate with the murder of Andre Gray. Andre was 34 years old and a resident of Lawrenceville when he went missing from his apartment in October 2014. His body was discovered in the Ohio River in late March and his funeral was this past […]

A Reel Take: Boys (Jongens)

Boys the Film

  Dutch director Mischa Kamp’s 2014 feature film, Boys (Jongens) is a quiet reflection on two teenage boys first loves. The film was originally created for television and this doesn’t show at all, it’s far from the content that i remember seeing as a young teenager watching after school specials. In many ways the “made-­for-­TV” feeling of the […]

An Open Letter to @ColinMeloy About #Bisexual Jokes

Andre Gray

Dear Colin, Last night, I was in the audience for The Decemberists Pittsburgh concert at The Benedum. The crowd numbered about 2,800 and the house was sold-out (per the usher.) Our seats were pretty good (Orchestra, Row T) and while we did have one screamer near us, for the most part it was a congenial little […]

Updated: Final Arrangements for Andre ‘Pokie’ Gray

Funeral Flowers Pittsburgh

As we reported, Andre’s body was recovered from the Ohio River on March 20 near Wheeling, West Virginia. His cause of death has been declared a homicide by gunshot wound. A person of interest (Hubert Wingate) is already being held at the Allegheny County Jail for other charges. No charges have been filed and Pittsburgh […]

Pittsburgh has 2nd Lowest Percentage of LGBT adults in 50 Metro Areas

This is important. A recent Gallup study of the 50 largest metropolitan cities in the United States found that Pittsburgh was ranked 49 thin terms of the size of our LGBT population. These results are based on responses to the question, “Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?” — included in more […]

Update on Campaign to #BringAndreHome

Andre Gray

I had the chance this week to speak with Andre Gray’s mother, Victoria, as we acknowledged the four-month anniversary of his disappearance on October 23, 2014. She is very strong and praying to find some conclusive answers. She also took some time to tell me a few lovely stories about Andre (she calls him Pok’ie) […]

The Advocate on Why LGBT Visibility in the Workplace Matters

Yesterday the delightful local lunchtime eblast Eat That, Read This referenced an issue near and dear to my heart – LGBTQ visibility among municipal and other governmental workforces. mayor peduto’s administration noted for being diverse. not mentioned in this piece: how many awesome staffers, at all levels, are gay! Adam his the nail on the […]

Update On The Search For Andre Gray & How To Donate

Andre Gray has been missing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since October 23, 2014. This past weekend, Andre’s family and friends (and strangers) gathered on the North Side to search the area near the spot where Andre’s abandoned car was found. Now we have a new way for you to get involved and show your support for […]

15 Year Old Trans Youth Missing in Columbus Ohio

Ashley Lane

Saturday evening, 15-year-old Ashley Lane left their family’s hotel room to attend an event at a Columbus Anime Convention (Ohayocon). They didn’t return. At first their parents thought they might have run away, but they left behind their glasses, coat and phone charger. Now they suspect something worse has happened. There’s no simple way to […]