Patrouious Achatz, 25, Compares LGBTQ+ Resources in Allegheny, Westmoreland, and McKean counties #AMPLIFYupdate

A Heteroromantic Demisexual Man with Trans Experience

At the request of our contributors, we are creating space for people to submit updates. We know that for some folks, life has changed so we are offering an opportunity to post an update to earlier responses. We will NOT be modifying that content, but we will create a link to this new post. This […]

Angela is a Queer Mother & Intersectional Feminist #AMPLIFY

Name: Angela Age: 28 County of Residence: Allegheny,  formerly Berks, Montgomery, Bucks in PA. Also lived in Rome, Italy, and the SF Bay Area of California Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I am a white cis woman. I am disabled by our society that allows people (mostly who are feminine) to remain chronically ill. I am […]

Bi and Demi, Kristen Wants You to Get Uncomfortable With Your Privilege #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Describe your geographical community. Suburban. East of Pgh. Not especially QUILTBAG friendly, no. I wouldn’t talk about going to Pride around here, in Public. I grew up in Pgh, and lived through the ’70s where my mom would party at Pegasus with my godfather and his partner. I lived through the ’80s where my godfather went to too many funerals. I’ve seen the changes, but it still feels like not enough. I visit Canada regularly and it’s just… normal, there, to see businesses advertising to Same-sex couples. To see those couples represent an average family, because they do, numerically.

Describe your local or regional LGBTQ community. I have a fairly good group of friends and colleagues, but my home area is… Not great and I’ve had some negative experiences with the Pgh community being very white, very cis, very class privileged, very LG dominated and very trans exclusionist. I may be cis, but I’m not going to sit by and ignore that. It’s a little… Lonely. I commute into the city, but coming back in isn’t always easy just to socialize and I’m not in my 20s, clubbing is just not my thing.

“Your Story Can Heal” Says Rain, 26, #AMPLIFY

Demisexual Greene Washington Allegheny counties

At the end of the day, your silence is damaging. Your story can heal and make people feel like they’re not alone. Name:  Rain Age:  26 ** Update – I made an error and listed Rain’s age as 44. I am sorry for the error. – Sue County of Residence:  Allegheny, formerly Washington and Greene Preferred […]

Moira Describes the Toll of Gatekeeping on The Trans Community #AMPLIFY

Transgender Beaver County

  Name: Moira Age: 33 County of Residence:  Beaver County, previously lived in Allegheny County Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers How do you describe your identity? I am a transgender woman 100%. That’s the easy part. My sexuality is a convoluted mess. I am demisexual. I wasn’t real sexual before starting HRT. Now there is little interest. However I have a […]