UPDATED Pittsburgh Designates Zones for LGBTQ Community To Protest , Gives 24 Hour Notice to Community Groups

Pittsburgh Pridefest

UPDATE Saturday: Since I wrote this at 11:30 PM Friday, the City has changed the policy about free speech zones and will not require people to use them. More here. I think Mayor Bill Peduto made a significant error in judgment this week regarding Pridefest by failing to disclose plans for “designated areas for protestors” […]

AMPLIFY! Gina Shares Her Truth With Those Who Deserve To Know

Western Pennsylvania

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 mostly avoid editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to tell us what we’ve missed […]

Update on Pittsburgh Pridest

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Events are unfolding at such a dramatic pace that I simply cannot come up with a more original headline. Iggy Azalea has cancelled her appearance at Pride in the Streets. She was supposed to perform Saturday June 13. She cancelled on June 8. The Delta Foundation promises the replacement entertainment will be announced soon. Rumors […]

GLSEN Pittsburgh Withdraws from Pittsburgh Pridefest

I’m just publishing the statements by the groups as I receive them ~ Sue   GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) Pittsburgh stands in solidarity with Roots Pride Pittsburgh and the many people and organizations who are opposed to the actions of the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, who booked Iggy Azalea as the […]

First United Methodist Church Withdraws from Pgh Pridefest To Stand With Marginalized LGBTQ Community

Church Withdraws From PrideFest

I received this statement from First United Methodist Church in response to recent disclosures about Pridefest ~ Sue PRIDE 2015 RESPONSE– First United Methodist Church, 5401 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Our response to the contracting of IGGY AZALEA for be the musical headliner for PrideFest 2015. IGGY AZELEA is a rapper who in both […]

What Are the Safety and Security Plans for Pittsburgh Pridefest?

Pittsburgh Pridefest

Protestors with an avowed anti-LGBTQ bent haven’t historically been a significant presence at Pittsburgh Pridefest. Yes, here and there. But it was really only in 2014 that they garnered the sort of attention that they craved when Repent Amarillo protested at the City County Building, strolled down the Pridefest route and then set up a […]

Doug Shields Statement on Pridefest

Doug Shields Pridefest

In the spirit of accountability, I have reached out to members of the Delta Foundation’s Community Advisory Board for their reactions to the controversies surrounding Pridefest. I already shared the response of State Representative Dan Frankel. This is the response of former City Councilman Doug Shields who is currently part of the staff of City […]

Billy Hileman on Pridefest Controversy: ‘I Stand With The Protestors’

Diversity Pittsburgh Pridefest

Late last week, longtime LGBTQ activist Billy Hileman began posting images on Facebook calling out the Delta Foundation around their decision to invite Iggy Azalea to perform at Pittsburgh Pridefest. Hileman coordinated Pridefest organizing in the 1990’s. He agreed to answer a few questions for me. “Defending Iggy doesn’t work. Iggy Azalea has no business […]

UPDATED: London Chanel, 21, Eighth Trans Woman of Color Murdered in 2015

London Chanel Transgender

Very sad news from close to home in Philadelphia – 21-year-old London Chanel was murdered early Monday morning and then promptly misgendered in the reporting. Fortunately, her friends weighed in quickly and the media updated their reporting. How sad that’s part of the ritual of mourning our trans sisters – fact checking the media. A […]

LGBTQ&A: DJ Wiggins Gaymely Gets Involved

An occasional series where we pose some questions to local LGBTQ folks (and Allies) to learn more about their personal experiences with LGBTQ culture. Click here for a complete list of all LGBTQ&A profiles.  During Pride 2013, we are trying to feature someone each day. I only “know” Dwayne through Twitter – he’s very good about retweeting and […]