Carina, 18, Identifies as Plus-sized Tattooed Monogamous Queer and Femme #AMPLIFY

Washington County pansexual queer

Name: Carina Nicole Age: 18 County of Residence: Washington Preferred Pronouns: she/her or they/them How do you describe your identity? Plus-sized tattooed monogamous queer femme. Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I came out as bisexual at thirteen, and pansexual at sixteen. I still have not fully come out as genderfluid. […]

Corvus Regrets the Lack of Sober, Radical, Queer, and Disability Friendly Community in Pgh #AMPLIFY

Queer Pittsburgh

Name: Corvus Age:  33 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns: I like “they” but he or she is also ok. How do you describe your identity? Queer Transgender Butch fits for now. I’ve tried on genderqueer, nonbinary, genderfluid, and other identities but I no longer feel I’m represented by them given how the definitions seem to have changed, or […]

Viva Valezz is a Queer Burlesque Performer Parenting a GenderFluid Child

Allegheny County Lesbian

  Name: Viva Valezz! (aka Dre’) Age: 49 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  female How do you describe your identity? I am an old school lesbian… You can call me dyke if you’re my age. We earned that.  You can also call me gay or queer.  I’m also half-Mexican, so I also identify as Mexican-American. And… I’m a mom. […]

As a Lesbian, Shelly Values Her Ties To Rural Indiana County #AMPLIFY

Indiana County Lesbian

Name: Shelly Age: 33 County of Residence:  Indiana, previously Butler Preferred Pronouns: She, her How do you describe your identity? I am female, and I feel feminine on the inside. I identify as lesbian, gay, or queer. My outward presentation is much more masculine. I do not feel comfortable in female clothing and prefer to wear men’s clothing. I […]

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 […]

Niki Talks About Living as a Gender Queer Trans Woman in Pittsburgh #AMPLIFY

Name:  Niki Age: 32 County of Residence: Allegheny. Washington county where I grew up. Crawford county, Erie county. I went to college in both places Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? My sexual orientation I describe as either bi, pan, or queer. I don’t care too much about those specific kinds of labels, just that gender isn’t important to […]

Cavanaugh, 25, Talks About Genderflux Identity and the Value of Self-Care #AMPLIFY

queer Pittsburgh

Name: Cavanaugh Age: 25 County of Residence: Allegheny Preferred Pronouns:  They or He How do you describe your identity? Queer, Afrolatin@, fat, trans, polyglam femme. Tenderqueer. I recently heard the word “genderflux” and I really love it. The idea is that my gender, and by extension my presentation, is sometimes a really, really loud version of itself and sometimes […]

Casey, 38, Honors One Year Since Coming Out As a Gay Woman #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer Women

Name: Casey Age: 38 County of Residence: Allegheny. I spent some time up in Erie when I was about four or so, and I lived in Philly area for about 7 years right before I moved to Pittsburgh in 2008. But I grew up mostly in the Maryland (Baltimore-DC corridor) area. Preferred Pronouns: her, she…for now How do you describe […]

Kaley is Trans, Queer and a Fan of Gender Outlaws

Transgender Beaver County

Please note that this is our 70th published AMPLIFY q&a since we began in late May 2015. Thank you to Kaley and everyone who has shared their story. Name: Kaley Age: 30 County of Residence: Allegheny, Grew Up in Butler County Preferred Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity?  I am first a human being, then a woman, […]

Cat is Queer, Genderfluid, and Fully Out #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Queer

Name: Cat Conley Age:  27 County of Residence:  Allegheny Pronouns: she/her How do you describe your identity? I identify as queer/genderfluid. There are days when I hate any reinforcement of my femininity, and other days when I revel in it. I haven’t figured out a solution yet beyond scowling when someone uses words like “dainty” to describe me. […]