Ross Township Commissioner and ACDC Committee Member Patrick Mullin Sharing anti-LGBTQ, welfare-shaming content on Facebook

Content note – homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, Allegheny County Democrats, suburban life, ageism, welfare shaming Also please note the original version of the essay contained a pivotal typographical error. That has been corrected. People are sending me Trump social media content shared by other ACDC members. This one gets to me. Patrick Mullin holds two […]

316 Reasons to Add Your LGBTQ Story to the #AMPLIFY Archive

Since 2015, we have been collecting stories from LGBTQ folks with ties to Western Pennsylvania. Some live here now, others grew up in this region. Others still attended college or had a job that brought them here or spent summers with their grandparents in an outlying community. Here includes 26 counties in Western Pennsylvania, from […]

Why I Ended My Fiscal Sponsorship Relationship with Persad Center

Persad Center Shame

My fiscal sponsorship relationship with Persad Center has formally ended. I made the decision earlier in the fall after two specific incidents made me aware beyond a shadow of a doubt that allying the #AMPLIFY and other community art projects with the current incarnation of Persad was both unhealthy and hurtful to my LGBTQ neighbors. […]

I’m a Columnist at the Pittsburgh Current!

If you’ve read my blog, you know that I repeatedly clarify that I am *not* a journalist. I’m a social worker with a degree in politicsl science. I write. I blog. But I am not trained in journalism. I am trained in community organizing and Constitutional Law. But I am now a columnist for the […]

Is Liberty University Online Targeting Pittsburgh Community Leaders?

Liberty University Online LGBT

Something of concern that I’ve noticed over the past years – an increasing number of regional community leaders have ties to Liberty University via the online school – folks pursuing higher degrees. This article from the New York Times and ProPublica lays out the reasons why that might be the case ($$) and it is concerning. […]

Kelsey, 22, Talks Lesbian Life in Elk County #AMPLIFY

Lesbian Elk County

Name:  Kelsey Age:  22 County of Residence:  Elk County, formerly Jefferson County Pronouns:  Her or she How do you describe your identity?  I’m a white lesbian Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to my mom when I was 12. I had a signature on […]

PFLAG Pittsburgh Relocates From Shadyside to PERSAD in Lawrenceville

News from PFLAG – they are relocating the meetings back to their original home at Persad Center. I’m a big fan of PFLAG. I went there soon after I came out and have been back many times, as both an attendee and a speaker. PFLAG is often on the ground in communities with no other […]

11 Reasons to Share Your Story with #AMPLIFY Right Now

AMPLIFY

  We would like to have your contribution to the AMPLIFY project. You should be 18+, identify as part of the LGBTQ community and have ties to at least one of the 26 counties in Western Pennsylvania. You can define ties. Your story matters because you matter. Whether you have a grand epic tale to […]

Honored to Receive Ten Nominations in the Readers Choice Awards 2017

Reader's Choice Awards

We are honored to be semi-finalists in the Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Reader’s Choice Awards 2017. You can cast your vote through March 15, 2017 in this round. There are many, many awesome nominations and I’m excited to see some new names in many of the categories. We received ten nominations and we are very […]

18th Annual LGBT Reader’s Choice Awards Nominations Open Until January 30

Reader's Choice Awards

It is that time once again to nominate your LGBT heroes and favorites for a the Keystone Alliance Gaylife Newsletter Readers Choice Awards. You have until January 30 to submit nominations. There are 24 categories that cover everything from community organizations to nightlife and beyond. To vote in this round, do the following: Create an […]