Butler Mayoral Election is Referendum Vote on Municipal NonDiscrimination Ordinance Says Local Trans Activist

“[The Nov 7 General Election] will be seen as a referendum vote [on nondiscrimination ordinances].  So, if it fails, no elected official will bring this back up anytime soon, in Butler or the surrounding area. If we get this passed, then it will show the neighboring municipality that it is not political suicide to bring this up and vote on it.”

Lisa, 47, is a Bi Woman Trying to Find Community in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Pittsburgh

Name: Lisa Age: 47 County of Residence: Allegheny County, previously Ohio & Puerto Rico Pronouns: She How do you describe your identity? Bi submissive white femme How would you describe yourself NOW in terms of “being out”? Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? At the age of 27, I was dating a woman […]

Update Your #AMPLIFY Contribution if You Like

AMPLIFY LGBTQ

**THIS IS FOR UPDATES ONLY. This is NOT for first time contributors. ** Click here for the update form. First time contributors should go to this form.  #AMPLIFY has been up and running since January 2015 and collected more than 225 contributions. We know that for some folks, life has changed so we are offering an […]

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 […]

Stop enabling Delta Foundation

  One thing I’m learning in therapy is that when I have someone in my life who’s spoiled rotten and who doesn’t have my best interests in mind, then at some point, not only do I have to call them to account, I also have to hold their enablers accountable. And I include myself. For […]

Tanha, 36, is a Queer, Bisexual Woman in Erie #AMPLIFY

Name: Tanha Age: 36 County of Residence: Erie Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity? I am a queer, bisexual woman. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I first came out to friends. Thankfully they were very supportive. My husband was amazing, but that’s no surprise. He’s my […]

New Pride Events in Pittsburgh Shake Up The Status Quo

A few years ago, a group known as Roots Pride stood up in a very public way against the structural racism embedded in the current incarnation of Pittsburgh Pridefest. With very limited resources, organizers coordinated community meetings, activities and events to celebrate the LGBTQ community of the region and the spirit of Stonewall – creating […]

Workshop for Local Media on LGBTQ Issues, Community – June 8 @PersadCenter

Registration now OPEN for the LGBTQ Media Training scheduled for Thursday, June 8, from 1-5 PM at Persad Center. This session is brought to you by Sequal Consulting Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents and sponsors ACLU of Pennsylvania and Three Rivers Community Foundation. The workshop will cover best practices and includes two panels: one of media professionals […]

Lora, 33, Talks About Coming Out, Family Support, & LGBTQ Narratives #AMPLIFY

Are there issues impacting your LGBTQ neighbors that aren’t visible or part of the local dialogue?

I think everyone is affected by our education system. We need to be taught compassion and understanding for marginalized communities. So often the narratives of people of color and people in the LGBTQ community are either not told or not given the equal space of white narratives. It is easy to see people that are seemingly different from you as “others” when you are not exposed to their stories, their kindness, their humanity while growing up and come to the realization that their narrative is our collective human narrative.