Why The Success of #AMPLIFY Has Left Me Discouraged

AMPLIFY Pittsburgh

I waited all day yesterday to learn if we were going to receive a $1000 grant for the AMPLIFY project, funds that would be used to turn my 2000 CRV into an art car to promote the project. Unfortunately, we did not secure the grant. We lost – just one of 84 applicants rejected for […]

Derek On Life As a Gay Man With Asperger’s Syndrome #AMPLIFY

Name: Derek Age: 23 County of Residence: Butler Preferred Pronouns: He How do you describe your identity? I am a single, 23-year-old gay man who happens to be gay and who also happens to live with Asperger’s Syndrome. No matter what people say, I try not to let their perceptions define me as a person. Please describe your coming out […]

Shaquanna Wants Families To Have Positive Conversations With LGBTQ Relatives #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Lesbian

Name:  Shaquanna Age: 32 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Female How do you describe your identity? Organic!  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?   Being the oldest sister of three sisters, I grew up in a household where it was okay to voice your opinion, and speak […]

Walter Wants Western PA To Be More Vibrant, Tolerant and Diverse #AMPLIFY

Name: Walter Meyer Age: 52 County of Residence: I was born and raised in Allegheny County and spent time in Centre County while I was at Penn State, and then a year in Somerset County. Since then it has been Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in California. Preferred Pronouns: he, his, him How do you describe your identity? I […]

Melvin, 30 Year Old Gay Black Man Murdered in Detroit

Transgender Candle

  Very sad news coming out of Detroit, Michigan – the tragic murder of a third queer person in 2015. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the homicide of Melvin, a 30-year-old black gay identified male shot to death on Monday, October 5, in Detroit, Michigan. According to media reports, a […]

Scott Describes Life As a Middle-Aged Gay Bear in Rural Armstrong County

Gay Armstrong County

Name:  Scott Age: 48 County of Residence: Armstrong Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His How do you describe your identity? A gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? My mother found a photo of me kissing a guy while snooping in my room. My parents response was that they can’t control what […]

How #AMPLIFY Has Changed My Life

I’m nine months into my artistic residency and four full months into the #AMPLIFY project, at least the publication phase. Seems like a good time to do some reflecting. If I were going to put up a sculpture to describe my life this year, it would be #AMPLIFY. It would be a beautiful reclaimed wood sculpture. […]

Alexandria is a Lesbian Artist Trying To Get Her Bearings #AMPLIFY

lesbian Pittsburgh

Name: Alexandria Age: 48 County of Residence:  Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: Female How do you describe your identity? I’m a compassionate person who is a white, female, lesbian artist. How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? All the way out Tell me about the first LGBTQ person whom you met. What impact did they have on […]

How Allies Can Erase LGBTQ People When Scheduling LGBTQ Events

Allies Pittsburgh

A recurring theme in the ‪#‎AMPLIFY‬ series is the lack of LGBTQ resources – funding, space, services, leadership opportunities, etc. We have lost a lot over the years, that’s true and we are still battling for the most basic rights., including visibility and dignity. Progress is rarely a linear progression, right? So it is especially frustrating to […]

Erik Is a Cis White Working-Class Queer from Clearfield County

Allegheny Clearfield Gay

  Name: Erik Age: 45 County of Residence: Allegheny. I grew up in Clearfield County, and attended college in Crawford County. Preferred Pronouns: he/him How do you describe your identity? This is evolving – in the sense that years ago, I wouldn’t have attached “cis,” not knowing what that meant – but I’m comfortable identifying as a cis white working-class […]