Amplify LGBTQ Voices from Pittsburgh’s Northside Because We Believe In Our Back Yards

We have a very special opportunity right now to receive a 100% match from the Buhl Foundation for a one-time hyperlocal AMPLIFY blitz. This is an extension of the One Northside project. A few weeks ago, I was asked to identify LGBTQ resources on the Northside – from any or all of the 18 neighborhoods. […]

Jess, 22, is a Poly, Bisexual Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Jess Age:  22 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? cis polyamorous bisexual/queer woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 18 to most people, and overall my friends and family were very supportive. I was very thankful […]

Madison, 40, is a Pansexual, Trans Woman Who Loves Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Transgender Pansexual

  Name: Madison Perry Age: 40 County of Residence: Allegheny Pronouns: She ,her How do you describe your identity? Pansexual Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? In terms of my sexuality , I came out to the world as bisexual at 26 but since then since the vocabulary as I’ve […]

My Latest #Hysterecovery Update

lesbian hysterectomy

I haven’t posted an update on this recently, so let me remedy that today. I had my surgery on January 10 so I recently passed the four month mark. In terms of the actual hysterectomy, I’m doing pretty good. No significant physical problems with the exception of having to pee a lot more often and […]

Q&A with Sara Innamorato, Candidate for PA State House District 21

I’ve known Sara for about a year, mostly through Facebook and shared interests in organizing. I know that she worked with New Voices Pittsburgh, a venerable progressive organization, and had co-founded She Runs to bring electoral tools to women in the region. Then I read about her decision to challenge Dom Costa and her partnership […]

Would you organize a fundraiser for #AMPLIFY?

AMPLIFY

As we prepare to resume publication of #AMPLIFY Q&A’s contributed by LGBTQ neighbors, someone asked me about fundraising. We would love to work with your organization or group to raise funds for the project. Your efforts will go toward growing the archive, processing the voluminous data already collected, and ensuring efforts to include ever more […]

Reverse Seasonal Depression and Spring

Sue Kerr hysterectomy

It is early this year, but the absurd weather patterns incumbent with climate change are wreaking havoc on my health once again. I’ve blogged about this in the past: There is a thing called ‘Season Affective Disorder’ or SAD which ties depression to the lack of light and seasonal changes. It effects about 4-6% of […]

Pgh Native Phylicia Mitchell, 46, is 5th Trans Person to be Killed in 2018

Phylicia Coulson Brown

This past Friday, February 23, 2018, Phylicia Mitchell was shot and killed in front her Cleveland home at 6 PM in the evening. She was shot about 6 p.m. Friday on West 112th Street near Detroit Avenue, in the Edgewater neighborhood of Cleveland, according to police reports.  No arrests have been made and the shooting remains […]

#Hysterecovery and Mental Health

lesbian hysterectomy

It is hard to ask for what you need when your requests are denied. I keep asking people to drop off Turners Iced Tea and coffee creamer, but no one has because they think I’m joking. So asking your surgeon to please call you on a Friday afternoon because you think something is wrong? Asking your boss for just a few more minutes on your break because your body feels like hell? Asking your insurance provider to reconsider your appeal about coverage? Asking your preschooler not to cuddle because your entire abdomen is inflamed? Asking your partner to please do this one more thing on top of everything else extra they are doing? 

Donate Girl Scout Cookies to Local LGBTQ Youth Projects

This is one of my favorite projects each year – my friend is 14 and she is a Girl Scout. She and her Mom have been selling cookies for many years. For the past several, they accept orders for cookies to be donated to local LGBTQ organizations that work with youth.  She has lots of […]