Benjamin, 35, is a Cis Gay Man Who Came out Four Times #AMPLIFY

Ben Gay Pittsburgh

  Name:  Benjamin Age: 35 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: he How do you describe your identity? I self-identify as a gay cisgender man. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I’ve probably come out 4 different times. First as someone “into guys,” then as someone with a homosexual […]

Jay, 33, Says Stories Are Part of Queer Liberation #AMPLIFY

Queer Mennonite

Name:  Jay Age:  33 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  they/them How do you describe your identity? white, genderqueer, queer, Mennonite, survivor with PTSD, justice worker Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  It was a slow process. I had my first girlfriend freshman year of college at […]

Cheryl, 42, Wants Us To See Everyone in the LGBTQ Community #AMPLIFY

lesbian allegheny county

Name: Cheryl Age:  42 County of Residence: Allegheny, Blair Preferred Pronouns: She/Her How do you describe your identity? I am two spirited. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out in college. My friends were supportive but it was a Catholic college and there weren’t any out staff. I […]

#AMPLIFY Zine Issue 2 Now Seeking Sponsors for June/Pride Edition

Pittsburgh Pride Sponsorships

UPDATE – just an FYI that we are dedicating Issue #3 to the bisexual and pansexual community. It will be released in September for Bi Visibility Week. The overwhelming success of Issue #1 has put an entirely new spin on our plans for the second issue which will also double as the event program for […]

#AMPLIFY LGBTQ Families, 29 Parents Share Their Experiences

Blogging for LGBTQ Families Day

For the past 18 months, I have been collecting Q&A responses from LGBTQ folks with ties to Western Pennsylvania. The project is called #AMPLIFY and we plan to continue seeking Q&A contributions through the end of 2017. Participants are 18+, identify as part of the LGBTQ community and have ties to Western Pennsylvania. We ask […]

Mel, 40: Bi, Queer and Pan Folks Don’t Always Speak in a Gay or Lesbian Voice #AMPLIFY

Butler County Queer

Name:  Mel Age: 40 County of Residence: Butler, formerly Crawford and Clarion counties Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I am a queer, disabled, pagan, working-class fat white chick. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to my family and friends in high school. I’m […]

Staci, 52, Wants More Representation For The Bi Community #AMPLIFY

Allegheny Bisexual

  Name: Staci B Age: 52 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: she How do you describe your identity?  As a writer, I have often pondered the question, “Who am I?”. I still don’t have an answer. I have come to understand, especially in the last two years or so, the privilege that I’ve experienced as a […]

Rachel, 30, is in the Process of Coming Out as Bisexual #AMPLIFY

bisexual allegheny county

Name: Rachel Age:  30 County of Residence:  Bucks, formerly Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  she/her How do you describe your identity? Bisexual – sort of becoming comfortable with the term queer also. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I’m still in the process. For reasons I don’t remember, it was […]

Creating the #CatCar: Pgh’s Latest Art Car Hits the Road #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Art Car

Converting my 2000 Honda CRV into an art car seemed like a solid idea. It only has 130,000 miles and is in pretty good shape mechanically speaking. It was technically our second car that I used for my day-to-day errands and the occasional big or ‘messy’ transport. Since I work from home, my day-to-day errands […]

Norman, 67, is a Gay Black Male of African Descent #AMPLIFY

Gay Black Pittsburgh

Name:  Norman Age:  67 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: he/his/him How do you describe your identity? gay (same gender loving) Black male of African Descent Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My coming out experience happened in the late 60’s with my sisters when I was in my […]