Bisexual Voices in Western PA #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Visibility Week

It is Bisexual Visibility Week and to honor this important resource, we are compiling the contributions from #AMPLIFY folks who identify as bisexual and/or pansexual. GLAAD has joined with BiNet USA, America’s oldest advocacy organization for bi+ (bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified, and unlabeled) people, for our third annual Bisexual Awareness Week. #BiWeek begins on September 19, […]

TWOC Crystal Edmonds Murdered in Baltimore

Crystal Edmonds Trans

Crystal Edmonds, 32, a trans woman of color who lived in Baltimore died Friday from gunshot wounds to the back of her head. Crystal is the 21st known transgender person to be murdered in 2016 in the United States. She is also the third person whose death I’ve blogged about this week and the second […]

Hayley, 46, Wants To Keep That Pride Feeling Year Round #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County Lesbian

Name: Hayley Age: 46 County of Residence: Allegheny, formerly Adams and Franklin counties Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity?  I am a white, lesbian, pescatarian, feminist woman. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I fell in love with a student in college. It was the typical “falling in love […]

Maine Trans Woman Found Dead in Reservoir

Lexxi Sironen

On the heels of learning about the brutal murder of T.T. in Chicago this past weekend, I was saddened to read more tragic news on the Transgriot blog. 43 year old Lexxi Sironen’s body was found floating in the Kennebec River on September 6 at 8:15 AM EDT near the water reservoir of the Brookfield […]

Brian, 35, ‘It’s okay to be whatever you want’ #AMPLIFY

As part of our role as the Official Social Media Sponsor of the ReelQ LGBTQ Film Festival, we are featuring a few Q&A’s with those involved. Today, we are delighted to share the AMPLIFY contribution from Brian who is hosting a fundraiser for the organization on Saturday evening. Be sure to check out Brian’s cultural […]

Trans Woman Murdered in Chicago on September 11 UPDATED

Trans Woman Murdered Chicago

Updated with T.T.’s full name. T.T. Saffore was 27 years old, according to her friends quoted in a Windy City Times story covering this crime. She was a hair stylist, enjoyed being around children and a support for other trans women in her neighborhood. She had family support. She is also the 20th known trans […]

Proud To Be The Social Media Sponsor for #ReelQ31

We are so pleased once again to be the social media sponsor of the ReelQ Film Festival, set for October 6-15 at the Harris Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh. You can find the complete schedule of events here. Follow the hashtag #ReelQ31 for the latest on the festival! Opening Night Screening & Party – October 6, […]

I Just Met My First Openly Gay Relative

I’m the only queer person that I know in my family. I have 20 first cousins and more than 60 second cousins plus untold third, fourth and once-removed cousins. Odds are good that someone else is also queer and/or trans, but no one is talking. It isn’t easy being the only openly queer family member, […]