It’s been a hard week in Pittsburgh to be a survivor of childhood sexual violence

Content Note: abuse, sexual assault, isolation It’s been a hard week in Pittsburgh to be a survivor of childhood sexual violence. Pittsburgh Pirate pitched Felipe Vasquez has been charged with multiple accounts related to a three year span of sexual violence targeting a girl from ages 13-15. PA State Senator Mike Folmer resigned after authorities […]

Jessica, 38, is a Cis Lesbian Who Came Out Later in Life #AMPLIFY

Pittsburgh Cisgender Lesbian

I was very comforted by seeing stories of women like me. Those who came out later in their lives, those who had families and marriages. If my story can help even one person to feel seen, then I’m grateful to have participated. Name: Jessica Age: 38 County of Residence:  Allegheny County, formerly Lancaster County, Dauphin County Pronouns: […]

Carla, 39, Identifies as a Bisexual, Non-Binary Scientist and Educator #AMPLIFY

Bisexual Non-Binary Pittsburgh

Name:  Carla Age: 39 County of Residence: Allegheny County. I grew up in Ohio and moved to Allegheny County in the late 90s for college. Pronouns: He/She/They How do you describe your identity? Bisexual, Non-Binary Scientist and Educator Please describe your coming out experience. Where did you find support? What challenges did you face? I have never come out in […]

Dave On Coming Out and Being Out in Cambria County #AMPLIFY

Gay Cambria County

Editor’s Note: This post contains content about adults sexually abusing children. While we completely disagree with framing such contact as consensual, we recognize that this is a lived experience for many of our contributors. Survivors make their own survival choices; I condemn the adults involved, not the children. We have included information on where to […]

David Talks About the State of Equality in Erie #AMPLIFY

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will minimize editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each participant to […]

Gary Has Lived in Northwest and Southwest PA As An Openly Gay Man #AMPLIFY

Gary Western Pennsylvania

Read the entire AMPLIFY LGBTQ Q&A archive. AMPLIFY LGBTQ is a new occasional series of blog posts designed to give a “signal boost” to the voices of our LGBTQ neighbors throughout Western Pennsylvania. We are using a Q&A format and will mostly avoid editing their responses. The questions, however, may change as we ask each […]