Kim, 44, Says She Lost Her Job in Beaver County Because She’s a Lesbian #AMPLIFY

  Name: Kim Age: 44 County of Residence:  Beaver County. Previously lived in Allegheny and Butler counties. Preferred Pronouns: Ms. How do you describe your identity? White Lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was 16. I told my mother that I was GAY! She said ” I know, I’ve […]

KK Compares Small Town Michigan to Pittsburgh From a Lesbian Perspective #AMPLIFY

Name: KK Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? I am a Caucasian lesbian How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? 100% Anyone who knows me knows I’m gay. Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on your life? The first person […]

As a Lesbian, Shelly Values Her Ties To Rural Indiana County #AMPLIFY

Indiana County Lesbian

Name: Shelly Age: 33 County of Residence:  Indiana, previously Butler Preferred Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity? I am female, and I feel feminine on the inside. I identify as lesbian, gay, or queer. My outward presentation is much more masculine. I do not feel comfortable in female clothing and prefer to wear men’s clothing. I […]

Gloria is a Happy Black Lesbian #AMPLIFY

Gloria Bigelow

Name: Gloria Bigelow Age:  Old Enough County of Residence: Grew up in Allegheny, now lives in California Preferred Pronouns: she How do you describe your identity? Happy black lesbian. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I found support in my friends and in other people in my community. I also […]

Sara, 35, on Her Reality as a Lesbian in Western PA #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County lesbian

Name: Sara Age: 35 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Me, herself, someone, somebody How do you describe your identity? Female, white, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It’s funny now but back in 1993 it was scary. I came out to my mother after listening to the Melissa Etheridge […]

Dinah Denmark: Lesbian, Jewish, Buddhist. #AMPLIFY

Dinah Denmark

Name: Dinah Denmark Age: 53 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: I don’t use them generally How do you describe your identity? Lesbian. Jewish. Buddhist. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? It was 1981, I was 18 years old. My college roommate and I fell in love. Fortunately, I had relatively […]

Jess is a Lesbian Mother Who Wants More Family Friendly Resources #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Pittsburgh

Name:  Jess Age: 25 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns:  Mrs. How do you describe your identity? I am white, a lesbian, and mother. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I told my parents and they were accepting. My friends didn’t care and my extended family came around. […]

Alexandria is a Lesbian Artist Trying To Get Her Bearings #AMPLIFY

lesbian Pittsburgh

Name: Alexandria Age: 48 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Female How do you describe your identity? I’m a compassionate person who is a white, female, lesbian artist. How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? All the way out Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on […]

Anonymous Grieves How Pgh’s Lesbian & Gay Community Treats Bisexuals #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Pittsburgh

Name: Anonymous Age: 45 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: She, her. (Non-traditional female) How do you describe your identity? Non-traditional female, bisexual, polyamorous. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I realized that I was bi at 42, after two hetero divorces. I think a big part of that was, when […]

Shawna on Her Unique Experience as a Lesbian in Indiana County #AMPLIFY

LGBT Indiana County

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]