Heidi, 28, Learned It’s Okay To Be An LGBT Christian #AMPLIFY

lesbian westmoreland

Name: Heidi Age: 28 County of Residence:  Westmoreland, formerly Allegheny and Fayette Preferred Pronouns: she How do you describe your identity? Female, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was 20. I fell in love, but was too afraid to admit it. Eventually the girl (who i knew […]

Mel, 40: Bi, Queer and Pan Folks Don’t Always Speak in a Gay or Lesbian Voice #AMPLIFY

Butler County Queer

Name:  Mel Age: 40 County of Residence: Butler, formerly Crawford and Clarion counties Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I am a queer, disabled, pagan, working-class fat white chick. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to my family and friends in high school. I’m […]

Mitch, 52, Believes In The Power of Movies to Create Community #AMPLIFY

gay pittsburgh

Name: Mitch Leib Age: 52 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: he How do you describe your identity? I am a gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I think we all come out in stages. My closest high school friends knew. Others probably assumed. I was pretty much out […]

Trans Woman of Color Mercedes Successful, 32, Murdered in Florida

Mercedes Successful

She was 32 years old which puts her among the older victims of the epidemic violence against transgender women  (and men) in our society. But still 32 is utterly young to lose your life. Mercedes Successful was murdered, the 11th person this year alone. Successful was born in Kingston, Jamaica and represented that country in […]

alexis, 29, talks compensation & community for marginalized lgbtq neighbors #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh

Name: Alexis Age: 29 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I am jewish white stealth non binary transsexual poly bisexual genderfucked intersex who experiences transmisogyny Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I began publicly ID as bisexual age 7 or 8. I did […]

Camellia, 30, is a Lesbian, Soon-to-be Wife, and Momma #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Lesbian

  Name:  Camellia Age: 30 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? Lesbian, soon-to-be-wife, momma. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  I was in my painted blue bedroom with posters of Shakira, Destiny Child, Amgelina Jolie, SI swimsuit models and Shaina Twain reading […]

Staci, 52, Wants More Representation For The Bi Community #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Bisexual

  Name: Staci B Age: 52 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she How do you describe your identity?  As a writer, I have often pondered the question, “Who am I?”. I still don’t have an answer. I have come to understand, especially in the last two years or so, the privilege that I’ve experienced as a […]

Rachel, 30, is in the Process of Coming Out as Bisexual #AMPLIFY

bisexual allegheny county

Name: Rachel Age:  30 County of Residence:  Bucks, formerly Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Bisexual – sort of becoming comfortable with the term queer also. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I’m still in the process. For reasons I don’t remember, it was […]

Reecey Walker, 32 Year Old Trans Woman of Color, Stabbed to Death in Wichita

Reecey Walker

Another tragic day for our community with the news that 32 year old trans woman of color, Reecey Walker was found stabbed to death in their Wichita apartment on Sunday evening, May 1. A 16 year old young man has been arrested, but not yet charged. From The Advocate: Officers were called to investigate a […]

Bill, 52, is a Gay Man Living in a Small Town in Cambria County #AMPLIFY

Gay Cambria County

  Name: Bill Age:  52 County of Residence: Cambria, formerly Indiana Preferred Pronouns: he, him How do you describe your identity? A white gay man who is not butch or fem. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I never formally came out to most family members. Over time it became […]