Q&A with Ona Louise About Drag Queen Story Hour

Ona Louise Drag Queen Story Hour

At the end of June, several local Drag Queen Story Hour events were scheduled to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall. Two events were cancelled by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Children’s Museum in response to non-specific online threats. Four events continued as planned – readings at the White Whale and Classic Lines […]

Eli, 37, is a Queer Bisexual, Trans Man, and Small Business Owner #AMPLIFY

Trans Man Lawrenceville

  By telling our stories, we expose others to narratives they may not be familiar with. This includes reaching potential allies, and folks who are struggling with their sexual and gender identities, as well as those who feel isolated because of them. Name: Eli Shumaker Age: 37 County of Residence: Allegheny County, formerly Clinton, Centre counties Pronouns: He/Him […]

Pittsburgh Roots Pride Organizers Need & Deserve Community Support

These are my own thoughts, I cannot speak for Joy and Michael. In 2015, they stepped up to lead a resistance against corporatized, corrupt Pride defined by Iggy Azalea but grounded in much deeper problems in the regional LGBTQ community. Beyond resisting, they created a three year project, Roots Pride, celebrating and centering those typically […]

Q&A with Queer Owned Rickert & Beagle Books in Dormont

Rickert & Beagle Books

Your Name: Christy Pluto (nee Rickert) Your Age: 42 Your Pronouns: She/ Her Your Affiliation with Rickert & Beagle Owner How do you describe your identity? Queer, cis. Please tell us about your very first impression of Pittsburgh: My first impression of Pittsburgh was coming over one of the bridges at night, on my way […]

Maxwell, 22, is a Queer Trans Man from McKean County #AMPLIFY

McKean County Trans Man

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

I want people like me to know that it does get better. You are not sick, you are not broken; you are you, and you are brave and strong. I wish I’d known who I am earlier, but it doesn’t always happen that way, and that’s okay. Finding yourself can take a long time, but it’s worth it.