Top Twenty Posts of 2015

best of 2015

I took a look at the most ‘popular’ posts/pages from 2015. AMPLIFY didn’t even crack the top twenty which is interesting because the individual posts do quite well. Clearly, my regular blogging is still driving most of the traffic to the website. So that’s an important lesson for me to keep in mind. And a […]

John, 38, Is a Johnstown Based LGBTQ Activist #AMPLIFY

Johnstown Gay

John has the distinction of being the 100th person profiled in this series since May 2015. Thank you, John. Name: John DeBartola Age: 38 County of Residence: I hail from New Jersey. I lived in Susquehanna County, PA when I was finishing high school. I have lived in Cambria County, PA and the surrounding area since 1995. Preferred […]

Corvus Regrets the Lack of Sober, Radical, Queer, and Disability Friendly Community in Pgh #AMPLIFY

Queer Pittsburgh

Name: Corvus Age:  33 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: I like “they” but he or she is also ok. How do you describe your identity? Queer Transgender Butch fits for now. I’ve tried on genderqueer, nonbinary, genderfluid, and other identities but I no longer feel I’m represented by them given how the definitions seem to have changed, or […]

KK Compares Small Town Michigan to Pittsburgh From a Lesbian Perspective #AMPLIFY

Name: KK Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? I am a Caucasian lesbian How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? 100% Anyone who knows me knows I’m gay. Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? The first person […]

De, 49, Is Concerned About LGBTQ Youth in Rural Western PA #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Beaver County

Name: De Age: 49 County of Residence: Beaver Preferred Pronouns: Her/She How do you describe your identity? Black lesbian woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came our late in life age 35, i had a few gay male friends that supported me. Since I didn’t have any lesbian friends […]

Joe Was Dragged Out of The Closet As A Young Man #AMPLIFY

Name: Joe Age: 36 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? Gay male.  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Everyone has a different story but for me, I was sort of dragged out of the closet as a young man. I think people […]

KD is a Gay Woman Who Chooses To Be On The Periphery #AMPLIFY

Name: KD Age: 49 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she /her/hers How do you describe your identity? Gay woman. Like Ellen, I don’t like the word lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I did not have 1 single experience. I came out to different people at different times. So […]

Sabrina, 50, Found New Friends When She Came Out As Trans #AMPLIFY

Butler County Transgender

Name: Sabrina Age: 50 County of Residence:  Butler Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Trans female (MtF), heterosexual, white. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was the first person to come out as Transgender at work. I work in a steel mill and the largest […]

Lela Wants Bisexual Voices To Be Heard #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Bisexual

Name: Lela Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny. I’ve lived in a few states, but was born and raised (and now currently reside) in Pittsburgh. Preferred Pronouns: She, her. How do you describe your identity? Caucasian, Italian, Bisexual, Woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out as bisexual at 15. […]

Kevin, 38, Talks About Jack Kerouac, Senior Housing and Gay Crushes #AMPLIFY

This is AMPLIFY post #92. We plan to publish continuously through the beginning of the week to reach #100 in time for our tenth blogaversary on December 29, 2015. Stay tuned!   Name: Kevin Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny, grew up in Oklahoma Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? White gay male.  Please describe your coming […]