Wes, 44: Queer Trans Man, Parent Wants You To Know That He Exists #AMPLIFY

Trans Pittsburgh

Name:  Wes Age: 44 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his How do you describe your identity? queer transman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  When it occurred to me that transmen exist I spared no time figuring out what I had to do. Since I was […]

Lisa Believes Being Out and Honest is ‘Like Flying’ #AMPLIFY

lesbian washington county

Name: Lisa Age: 34 County of Residence: Washington Preferred Pronouns: Feminine pronouns. She, her, etc. How do you describe your identity? White, female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 31 and I was married to a man at the time. I faced so much ridicule and […]

Sueno, 33, Adds Her Particular Color of the Rainbow to the #AMPLIFY Narrative

queer poc pittsburgh

  Name: Sueño Age: 33 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? Queer poc. I feel it encompasses the whole range of the “rainbow”, and doesn’t pin me into box. I used to identify as a lesbian, then felt like I had forsaken my whole identity when I developed real feelings for a […]

Maggio, 28, is Unapologetically a Bi-sexual Queer Feminist Scholar #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Butler County Bisexual

Name:  Maggio Age: 28 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Butler Preferred Pronouns: She/Queen How do you describe your identity? I am a bi-sexual queer feminist scholar. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? For as long as I remember I was attracted to girls. In middle school I started explaining to […]

Ben, 29, is Proud to be a Queer Pittsburgher #AMPLIFY

Gay Pittsburgh

Name: Ben Stoviak Age: 29 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He/They How do you describe your identity? Queer, gay, male-bodied; I like to think of myself as a lover above these things, though, and like to remind people that I’m many more things than this—I’m a teacher, professional, creative, son, brother, adventurer, and friend. Please describe your coming out […]

Trans Day of Visibility in Pittsburgh

Beginning in 2009, March 31 has been recognized as the International Day of Trans Visibility. In the spirit of the day, I am sharing the AMPLIFY posts from trans identified contributors. To date, we have published 25 contributions from trans contributors, representing about 21% of our contributors. They have ties to at least 13 of […]

Martha, 52, is a Gay Woman Talking About Spending Her Whole Life Coming Out #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Butler Gay woman

  Name: Martha Age:  52 County of Residence: Formerly Allegheny and Butler counties. Now, New York State. Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? I’m a gay woman. I very rarely refer to myself as a lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? That is an interesting […]

Naheen, 29, Is a Gay Black Male Who Feels Confident in Himself #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Gay

Name: Naheen Age: 29 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He, him How do you describe your identity? I am a gay black male Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was forced to come out after my mother allegedly accidentally was going through my voicemails on my old cricket phone […]

Mia Donna Has Wild Happy Life as a Pansexual Polyamorous Person #AMPLIFY

queer Washington County

  Name: Mia Donna Age: 43 County of Residence:  Washington, formerly Allegheny and Westmoreland Preferred Pronouns: she, her How do you describe your identity? pansexual gender fluid human Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? ha. i laugh because i dont believe i really had a true coming out experience. i […]

RevDrRay, 49, Believes LGBTQ Folks Deserve Strong & Powerful ‘Spiritual’ Life #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Gay Black Man

I just want to say that it is possible to have a strong and powerful “spiritual” life; we do not deserve the often used bible or faith based abuses dished out and far too often accepted by the masses. Name: RevDrRay Age: 49 County of Residence: formerly Allegheny County, now Washington DC metro area Preferred Pronouns: masculine How do […]