How much would you pay to hear Ed Pinto’s queer life story? #AMPLIFY

Ed Pinto Pittsburgh

This is Ed Pinto aka Eduardo Pienta aka Eddie the Jagoff. I met Ed in January 2017 at a fundraiser organized by Viva Valezz to support the ACLU. His body was covered in ink, the ‘script’ of a performance spoken word piece. I was impressed that he could do a backbend and had very pretty […]

Deb, 60, is a Lesbian Who Wants to Preserve Western PA Gay History #AMPLIFY

Queer lesbian Elder

  Name: Deb Age: 60 County of Residence: I live in California now, but was born in Allegheny Co and raised in Clearfield County and went to college in Butler County Pronouns: her How do you describe your identity? Queer, lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I was home […]

We #AMPLIFY Stories from 50+ LGBTQ Parents in Western Pennsylvania on #LGBTQFamiliesDay

Welcome to another year of LGBTQ Families Day, a ‘day of blogging (and more)’ about LGBTQ families, sponsored by the blog Mombian and the Family Equality Council. Once again, I’ve decided to share #AMPLIFY posts highlighting the voices of parents, step-parents  and grandparents and other caretakers of children.  If you are a LGBTQ person with ties […]

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 […]

QT is a 28 year old cis, white, queer female with ties to rural Western Pennsylvania #AMPLIFY

Armstrong Allegheny Cambria Indiana counties

As someone who does not get clocked as LGBT, i hear a lot of very negative talk at work, from people who are very anti lgbt and unaware that I’m part of the community Name: QT Age:  28 County of Residence: Allegheny, previously Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Cis white queer female […]

Anastasia, 55, is a Woman Who Identifies as a White Trans Lesbian in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh transgender lesbian

I shouldn’t make presumptions about how folks would react: that I should be prepared for generosity as well as a negative reaction. After the decades of gaslighting, I still struggle to keep this in mind, but I do believe that there is a lot of good will among straight/cis people for the LGBTQ+ community. Name: Anastasia […]

Eli, 41, is a Feminist Trans Man Describing Queer Life in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Feminist Trans Man

I left home at 16 and moved in with my best friends family. My friends became my family.   Name: Eli Age:  41 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: He/him How do you describe your identity? Feminist Trans Man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? Family was horrible, I […]

bee Revisits 60+ Years of Her Feminist Lesbian Experiences in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name: bee Age: 60 County of Residence: Allegheny County Pronouns: She/Her How do you describe your identity? I’m a lesbian feminist. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came home from a day in the First Grade and announced that I wanted to marry my teacher (a nun) and kiss […]

Maria, 37, is a Queer Trans Latinx Challenging Us To Be Better Trans Allies #AMPLIFY

Trans Woman Pittsburgh

It is never easy coming out, be it for the first time or the hundredth time, and that little bit of fear is still there after having some people in my life no longer wish to be a part of my life. But I feel it is important to be out, and visible, and that […]

How (and Why) to Share Your Story with the #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Project

LGBTQ Pennsylvania

Let’s start with the “HOW” to share your story. This project uses an online Google form as our Q&A. So you simply go to the form and begin filling out your responses. Important to note – if you click away from the form, everything will be lost. So finish your responses before you follow any […]