Search Results for: Persad Center

AMPLIFYBisexualGay

Kyle Discusses Privilege & Perception of Gay, White, Cisgender Men #AMPLIFY

January 10, 2017 by
gay bisexual cis man Allegheny County

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”?

I am 100% viewed by most as being out as a gay man, which is funny since I have spent most of my adulthood as bi- or pan-sexual (I adopted the pan-sexual identity after first hearing about it). But, I am a cis-gender man who is married to a cis-gender man. Since most people just assume that means I am gay, that is what I am generally seen as. So, I suppose I am “out,” just not everyone knows the full story.

Activism

Thank You for Your Generosity These Past Months

January 6, 2017 by

I need to take a moment to simply thank you for all that you’ve done these past months. In November, I asked you to help us fund the #AMPLIFY tee shirts and you did. Then I asked you to donate gift cards and cookies to support LGBTQ elders through the PErsad SAGE projects. Then I […]

AMPLIFYLGBTQ

Shari, 57, Wants More Inclusivity & Power for QTPOC #AMPLIFY

January 3, 2017 by

Name: Shari Age: 57 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, formerly Indiana County Preferred Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I am a woman who loves, and is affectionately and romantically attracted to  women. I have the capacity to love men and have male friends, but am not sexually attracted to them. I am a multiethnic person, […]

AMPLIFYTrans

Ravenna, 37, Pansexual Trans Woman Living in the Allegheny County Suburbs #AMPLIFY

December 8, 2016 by

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 26 years old. It was tough. I was on the verge of suicide and I had a 2-year-old son depending on my existence.

I dropped a bomb on my life. On relationships. It was the only way. I had no friends. Nowhere to really start. I just got myself out into the queer community. My personality aided greatly in forming my initial friendship and support base. Those early days were very lonely though.

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Been living openly as a pansexual trans woman for 10 years. I’ve gone through all of the legalities and am quite open in my personal life. I do like to maintain my anonymity in my daily life. I still work where I did through my transition. Work was tough but I fought and survived the experience.

AMPLIFYTrans

Vanessa, 31, Describes Her Transition & Life as Pansexual in Washington County #AMPLIFY

December 6, 2016 by
Trans Pansexual Washington County

How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? I carry myself allot better that i ever have before, my confidence is much greater and have gained a better sense of living. Being happy that I’m now who i am and not pretending to be someone i never was has lifted a great deal of weight off of my shoulders and has given me hope and something to look forward to.

AMPLIFY

Is an #AMPLIFY Tee Shirt (fundraiser) a Useful Form of Resistance? #GivingTuesday

November 28, 2016 by

Here’s our appeal for #GivingTuesday. We need to raise $600. We’ve kicked around the idea of a tee shirt fundraiser in the past, but never came up with a concept beyond using our logo (designed by Kai Devenitch): The ongoing discussion of wearing safety pins combined with this creative anarchist button response got me thinking […]

AMPLIFY

Take Our #AMPLIFY Tee Shirt Survey & Resist UPDATED

November 24, 2016 by

If you are interested in purchasing a tee shirt (as a fundraiser) either for yourself or to donate to another participant, please complete this survey. We need feedback on the style of shirts we order, the slogan/logo and some other details.

If you need a little “grrrr” to get you going, last night someone trolled me through this survey. It wasn’t pleasant to read, but the nasty comment illustrates why we need to lift up the narrative of everyday lives. This person has been trolling me since I wrote a blog post about Dalia Sabae, a bisexual woman of color who was murdered by her husband a few weeks ago. It takes a measure of commitment to the hate to log into a survey & work some personal slams against me into the responses. If you want to read more about that, go to my Facebook page.

AMPLIFYGay

Mitch, 27, Describes Life in Butler County as a Gay Man #AMPLIFY

November 3, 2016 by
Butler County Gay

Have you ever experienced discrimination based on your identity? Specifically, in a job setting, when applying for housing or while in public. While living in Butler, whether past or present, it is not safe to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community or perceived to be a member. When living in Butler, I received threats, was harassed, had my car vandalized and have been physically harmed as a result of being gay and prior to coming out, for being perceived as a gay person. I think a mistake is being made if people deny a problem exists. Just because someone says something does not exists, doesn’t mean it doesn’t.

AMPLIFYBisexualQueerTrans

Lavi, 29, is Trans Queer Bi and Wants Your Respect & Support #AMPLIFY

October 20, 2016 by

Name: Lavi

Age: 29

County of Residence: I grew up in Greene county. I moved to Allegheny County when i was 18. Ive lived in Pittsburgh the past 11 years

Preferred Pronouns: She, her

How do you describe your identity? trans queer bi white

Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I started coming out when I was about 15 I think. At that time I found support online. There was an online community of mostly other teenage trans kids we helped each other out with what we could.

I didn’t have support from my family and local community. I felt isolated and alone. I was. I tried to run away but it didn’t work.

I came out more finally when I turned 18 and moved to Pittsburgh. It was finally a time when I could start to be myself and figure out who I am.

I still had trouble finding support. I went to transpitt but felt a big generational gap. I learned a lot tho from Nancy. I always remember her.

AMPLIFYOther

Why People Share Their Stories With #AMPLIFY

October 9, 2016 by
LGBT History Month Pittsburgh

In June 2015, we added this question to the Q&A

“What motivated you to take part in this project?”

The responses have been enlightening when I consider why people take 30-60 minutes to share some of their most personal thoughts with the wide world. Their investment isn’t fleeting – the Q&A will live on as our archived collective experiences.

“I particularly wanted to participate because I wanted an older perspective to be included.”