Reach OUT for the Holidays: Supporting LGBTQ Elders

  Once again, we are teaming up with the SAGE program at Persad Center to support LGBTQ elders who may not have strong family support during the holiday season. Some adults in the program struggle to meet their day to day needs because of limited incomes and resources. Homophobia, transphobia and racism in their community […]

Jazmine, 46, Has Advice for LGB Allies to the Trans Community #AMPLIFY

Trans Allegheny County

Name: Jazmine Age: 46 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She, her, woman, female, Queen! How do you describe your identity? I was adopted so don’t know my ethnic background. I am a heterosexual female. HIV + Trans woman who often regrets transitioning now that I’m older. Seems things such as relationships would be easier and life less lonely had […]

Holiday Toy Distribution in Pittsburgh 2015

Behind the scenes, this information is some of the most frequently sought from my blog this time of year. So I’m going to make it as accessible as possible. There are two major two distributions that are open to the public. Play It Forward will distribute gently used toys, books and similar items on Saturday […]

Niki Talks About Living as a Gender Queer Trans Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Name:  Niki Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny. Washington county where I grew up. Crawford county, Erie county. I went to college in both places Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? My sexual orientation I describe as either bi, pan, or queer. I don’t care too much about those specific kinds of labels, just that gender isn’t important to […]

Cavanaugh, 25, Talks About Genderflux Identity and the Value of Self-Care #AMPLIFY

queer Pittsburgh

Name: Cavanaugh Age: 25 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  They or He How do you describe your identity? Queer, Afrolatin@, fat, trans, polyglam femme. Tenderqueer. I recently heard the word “genderflux” and I really love it. The idea is that my gender, and by extension my presentation, is sometimes a really, really loud version of itself and sometimes […]

Jean Came Out As Bisexual After Her Retirement #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Pittsburgh

Name: Jean Age: 61 County of Residence: Allegheny, Westmoreland, then Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: complete person, happy woman How do you describe your identity? I am an American, who is a white bi-sexual woman, of German, English, and Scottish background. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out as bi-sexual to […]

Kathi Wants To Be More Connected to LGBTQ Elders in Rural Communities #AMPLIFY

Kathi Boyle Pittsburgh

Name:  Kathi Boyle Age: 69 County of Residence: Allegheny. I was born in Carbon County so lived there for the first 6 weeks of my life. My family then moved to Tennessee. Preferred Pronouns: She, her, hers How do you describe your identity? White lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you […]

Casey, 38, Honors One Year Since Coming Out As a Gay Woman #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer Women

Name: Casey Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny. I spent some time up in Erie when I was about four or so, and I lived in Philly area for about 7 years right before I moved to Pittsburgh in 2008. But I grew up mostly in the Maryland (Baltimore-DC corridor) area. Preferred Pronouns: her, she…for now How do you describe […]

Northside Holiday Food Drive

  The Northside Food Pantry is the largest in Western Pennsylvania, serving over 1,000 families every month. 1,000 families equals many thousands of people. Some have children, some are senior citizens living on their own. All our are neighbors. Each family can visit the pantry one time per month. This is the leanest time of […]

#AMPLIFY Trans Voices on the Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2015

Today is the International Trans Day of Remembrance as well as a day to honor trans resilience. In lieu of our usual Friday #AMPLIFY profile, we are sharing these previously published Q&A posts with transgender neighbors living in Western Pennsylvania. Visibility is an important component of resiliency and a luxury many of us may not […]