Q&A with Singer-Writer Jill Sobule Live in Pittsburgh This Weekend Only

  Your Name: Jill Sobule Your Pronouns: her/She How do you describe your identity? Jeepers, I kind of don’t think about that as much. I guess “bi”, “fluid”, “queer”? They all could work We last ‘spoke’ via Q&A in 2013 when you came to town with the Julia & Jill Show. So I’ll skip the usual […]

Jess, 22, is a Poly, Bisexual Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Allegheny County LGBTQ

Name:  Jess Age:  22 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? cis polyamorous bisexual/queer woman Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out at 18 to most people, and overall my friends and family were very supportive. I was very thankful […]

Lakeview School District in Mercer County Implements Trans Inclusive Student Policies

Lakeview School District in Mercer County serves about 1200 students in a district with a population of 8,600 people.  Mercer County is in Northwestern Pennsylvania, about 60 miles to Erie and another 60 miles to Pittsburgh. The district is comprised of Fairview Township, Jackson Center Borough, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Mill Creek Township, New Lebanon […]

Joseph, 28, is a HIV+ queer and gay man in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

A HIV+ queer and gay man Pittsburgh

  Name: Joseph Onstott Age:  28 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: he/him/his they/their How do you describe your identity? A HIV+ queer and gay man Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I feel like straight people have this idea in their head that it’s an overnight process when it is anything […]

Dakota, 27, Wants You to Support Queer Activists & Queer Art #AMPLIFY

Describe your geographical community. 

“Pittsburgh is an urban community that is mostly LGBTQ-friendly, but I’ve found that’s often on a surface level… which I think is true for the way Pittsburgh appeals to lots of minoritized groups. There are community spaces for queer folks, medical providers who cater to our specific needs, nonprofits dedicated to our causes, and local businesses owned by members of the community. But it often feels like Pittsburgh’s blue-collar roots are at odds with contemporary queer community-building. Queer folks, to me, feel very disparate and broken up into cliques — sort of how the city is split up into so many tiny neighborhoods. As I write this answer, I’m realizing that I don’t think I’ve ever let my guard down to feel like my full self in any of the five years I’ve been living in Western PA.”

Tara, 24, is a Femme, Queer Human #AMPLIFY

Name:  Tara Foran Age: 24 County of Residence: Philadelphia, formerly Allegheny County Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Femme queer.  Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out when I was 17. At the time, I was witnessing a shift in the way the people around me […]

Rachel, 24, Asks Where Are Our Out, Queer Women Role Models in Pittsburgh? #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer Woman

Name:  Rachel Age: 24 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? Gender identity: cis female, sexual orientation: queer, race: white. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face?  I sort of subconsciously knew I was queer from a young age. I remember being enamored with a […]

Tracey, 58, is a Queer Mother Parenting Nonbinary Children #AMPLIFY

queer washington county

What motivated you to take part in this project? 

Living my truth, parenting non-binary children, wanting to do the best for my family and my clients.

Dave, 33, Identifies as a Queer, recovering Gay White Man #AMPLIFY

Gay Allegheny County

Name: Dave Hutchinson Age: 33 County of Residence: Allegheny County Pronouns: Any of the three sets – I’ve been in different contexts where each one made sense and felt right. How do you describe your identity?  Queer, recovering Gay White Man™ Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out in […]

Morgan, 31, is a Black, Bisexual, Queer, Polyamorous Woman & Mother #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh polyamorous bisexual queer

Name: Morgan Age: 31 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: She/her How do you describe your identity? I am a black, bisexual, queer, polyamorous woman and mother. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out to the “general public” in a long Facebook post after the Orlando tragedy in 2016. […]