Butler Mayoral Election is Referendum Vote on Municipal NonDiscrimination Ordinance Says Local Trans Activist

“[The Nov 7 General Election] will be seen as a referendum vote [on nondiscrimination ordinances].  So, if it fails, no elected official will bring this back up anytime soon, in Butler or the surrounding area. If we get this passed, then it will show the neighboring municipality that it is not political suicide to bring this up and vote on it.”

Stephanie Montez is 22nd Transgender Person Murdered in 2017

A week after her body was discovered, friends of Stephanie Montez spoke out to make sure her authentic identity was acknowledged. The friends of Corpus Christi transgender woman Stephanie Montez were left aghast as their search for her revealed that the Sheriff had identified her as a “man in a dress” in an inexcusably transphobic […]

Meg, 30, is a Genderqueer Femme in Washington County #AmplifyUpdates

At the request of our contributors, we are creating space for people to submit updates. We know that for some folks, life has changed so we are offering an opportunity to post an update to earlier responses. We will NOT be modifying that content, but we will create a link to this new post. This will […]

Tracey, 58, is a Queer Mother Parenting Nonbinary Children #AMPLIFY

queer washington county

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

Living my truth, parenting non-binary children, wanting to do the best for my family and my clients.

Bebe Beretta, 27, is Nonbinary, Genderfluid, and Wants More LGBTQ Folks to Connect #AMPLIFY

Bebe Beretta

Name: Bebe Beretta Age: 27 (28 in November!) County of Residence: Allegheny County, formerly Butler and Mercer counties Pronouns: She/He/They (anything will do, I’m a pronoun hog!) How do you describe your identity? Non-binary, gender-fluid. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I never really came out. The universe just kind of […]

Dave, 33, Identifies as a Queer, recovering Gay White Man #AMPLIFY

Gay Allegheny County

Name: Dave Hutchinson Age: 33 County of Residence: Allegheny County Pronouns: Any of the three sets – I’ve been in different contexts where each one made sense and felt right. How do you describe your identity?  Queer, recovering Gay White Man™ Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out in […]

Phat Man Dee Talks About ‘Creative Love Energy’ and #LGBTHistoryMonth

Phat Man Dee

In honor of LGBT History Month, I’ve asked several friends to share something that they consider significant with regard to the regional LGBTQ experience. Here, Mandy L Kivowitz-Delfaver also known as Phat Man Dee, responds. I’ll admit that she made me tear up quite a bit.  ~ Sue My friend Sue Kerr of the wonderful blog […]

Helen, 51, Came Out as Bisexual in the Army National Guard #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Pittsburgh

Your Name: Helen Franziska Gerhardt Your Age: 51 Your Pronouns: She, her, Your County of Residence:  Allegheny How do you describe your identity? Bisexual Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? I was about eight years old when I met the woman from whom I received my middle name, Franziska […]

Guest Blog Post: History Repeats, But Our Response Can Change #LGBTHistoryMonth

LGBT History Month Sarver Pennsylvania

October is LGBT History Month. I’ve asked several people to share their thoughts on regional historical events that left an impression on them. Some contributors are LGBTQ, some are allies. All are people I think you will enjoy hearing from this month. If you would like to submit a guest post, please click here. ~ […]

Meg, 28, is Nonbinary, Genderqueer, Polyamorous, and Pansexual #AMPLIFY

non binary, genderqueer, polyamorous, and pansexual.

Name:  Meg Age:  28 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: They/Them and She/Her How do you describe your identity?  Genderqueer, Pansexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I have always identified with bisexual, but at 27 I came out to family after entering the queer community more and […]