May 28, 2024 - Pittsburgh City Paper

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF J. TRAFFORD

THE ART OF INFORMED CONSENT

Many LGBTQ tattoo artists in Pittsburgh use informed consent to make clients feel safe — why can’t all services be this way?

BY TARA FAY COLEMAN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Irecognize that “not cool enough” and “too old for” are subjective when it comes to opting out of joining specific social media platforms, but I don’t utilize TikTok for those reasons, and I am pretty firm in that. I felt the same way about Vine, which did not stand the test of time, so I have learned to trust my instincts when it comes to that sort of thing. However, on occasion, TikToks will migrate over to Instagram as Reels, make their way to my feed, and I’ll watch. This is how I came across JPalm Hairdressing, a queer-owned salon based in Omaha, Neb. Run by Jordan Palmer and Alex Bauer, JPalm offers services like genderless pricing, enhanced accessibility, and no-cost styling for clients experiencing hair loss due to medical treatments.

I viewed JPalm’s videos through “stitches,” in which other content creators respond or react to posts not made by them. These stitches featured videos, both staged and organic, demonstrating informed consent, a practice more familiar to medical ethics and patient information. In each video, the stylist shares their pronouns and invites the client to share their own, asks what they would like, and requests permission to touch them. Most of the stitches were in critique of these practices, or poking fun at the idea of someone asking permission before beginning a haircut.

Seeing these made me realize that, when many of us receive services, we often don’t consider our bodily autonomy. Getting a haircut may seem routine, but this and many other services are deeply intimate experiences. You’re allowing someone into your personal space and essentially trusting them with your physical well-being. There’s a vulnerability that comes with allowing another person to touch and shape parts of your body. It’s a moment of connection and trust,

where you’re not just changing your appearance or relieving tension; you’re also engaging in a subtle exchange of energy and empathy. In these moments, the person rendering the service becomes a conduit for both physical transformation and emotional release, making these seemingly mundane tasks profoundly intimate encounters.

Ultimately, getting a tattoo is not just a o t the final design it s a o t the connection forged between artist and client in the space of creation.

In my younger years my attitude towards tattooing was generally more frivolous, and I was too immature and ill-informed to advocate for myself in terms of placement, design, or any number of factors involved with

THERE’S A VULNERABILITY THAT COMES WITH ALLOWING ANOTHER PERSON TO TOUCH AND SHAPE PARTS OF YOUR BODY.

This is what informed consent is about. Every individual has the right to make decisions about their own body, and clients should feel empowered to voice their preferences, concerns, and boundaries. This open dialogue fosters a collaborative relationship between the artist or stylist and the client, laying the groundwork for a positive experience. By providing thorough information about the procedures involved, potential side effects, and a tercare instr ctions, clients can make informed choices that prioritize their well-being. y first enco nter ith odily autonomy and informed consent was through tattooing, which requires a shared understanding of the significance o the piece, and the tr st placed in the artist to bring it to life.

getting something permanently done to your body. (This has unfortunately resulted in several cover-ups). Such is the nature of being a tattoo person, but also of being “just a girl”; who among us has never walked out of a nail salon with a shape, design, or color they didn’t like; left a stylist’s chair with a disappointing press and curl that was reminiscent of a childhood Easter Sunday look; concluded a doctors appointment where they did not entirely feel their needs were met or concerns heard, but could never quite muster the courage to push back?

I met artist Lou Hammel during the COVID-19 pandemic, at the time when mandates relaxed and businesses ere first starting to open back up. My mental health had taken

THE ART OF INFORMED CONSENT, CONTINUES ON PG. 8

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Lou, owner of Dream Machine Tattoo

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a steep decline, and as a way to curb self-harm impulses, I searched for tattoo shops that were taking clients and connected with Lou, who, at the time, was working out of Gypsy Tattoo Parlor.

Opened in 2010 by artist Michelle Joy, Gypsy is a Romani-owned tattoo shop on the border of Bloomfield and Lawrenceville. I started working with Lou when I was in a very vulnerable space, and what stuck out to me the most was the care and consideration he offered, which included asking for my pronouns and permission to touch me, assessing my comfort level throughout the process, and

encouraging breaks or rest periods if needed.

I became so attached to Lou that I continued going to him after he left Gypsy and opened his own shop, Dream Machine, located at 5423 Penn Ave. Dream Machine is LGBTQ friendly, and a safe space for trans clients. Lou himself is trans, and the staff at Dream Machine is primarily queer/trans-identifying as well.

As a result of frequenting that shop, I began to attribute informed care specifically to queer spaces, because I had not experienced it anywhere else. However, in speaking with Lou about this, I began to view

it more as incidental to queer spaces, and not fixed. We discussed how informed consent is a fundamental ethical principle that applies universally across all interactions. And while the language and practices surrounding it may have been adopted and emphasized within queer spaces due to historical marginalization and the prioritization of individual autonomy, its importance extends far beyond any specific community.

Informed consent serves as a cornerstone of respectful and ethical engagement. As a Black woman who recognizes that Black tattoo artists are few and far between in

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Staff at Dream Machine Tattoo located at 5423 Penn Ave.

western Pa., it is especially important for anyone I’m working with to utilize anti-racist practices, but also acknowledge cultural sensitivities and historical traumas that may intersect with services specific to sel e pression rtists m st approach their work with cultural competence and humility, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and lived e periences o their clients

I am a cis-presenting woman who has primarily been tattooed by cis men, and, there ore, have e perienced my fair share of inappropriate conduct, and not feeling respected or valued. When I was a new mother, one man paused mid-way through a painful rib piece to tell me I “have an insane body for having had a child t a notorio s o th ide tattoo space, a staff mem er elt it

necessary to interject in a conversation I was having with my brother to go on a rant a o t ho rican mericans ere more racist than white people.” These are in addition to all the instances of freezing cold shops lasting an iety ind cing heavy metal that I put up with simply because it’s easier to tolerate things than to request accommodations.

I have dealt with uncomfortable comments about my “soft skin,” how the placement of certain pieces was so se y, and ho I sat so ell and didn’t complain at all, because to be a oman is to not only s ffer thro gh the discomfort, but to smile, tip, and say thank you when it’s all over.

My aim is not to call anyone out, but I can wholeheartedly say that I did not particularly enjoy the process of being tattooed before patronizing

queer artists. Besides Lou and the rest of the Dream Machine staff, there’s also Eric Galluzzo-Torres, owner of Dark Matter Tattoo Collective in Shadyside, who has done some of my favorite pieces to date; artists whom I have not worked with but who come highly recommended include Sara Eve at PMA Tattoo in McKees Rocks and Rita Santana, co-owner of Three Fates Tattoo in East Liberty, who offers free color testing on darker skin (and who I got mistaken for once at yoga).

The comfort and care I experience with these individuals should extend beyond queer spaces and become more commonplace. And while Lou

feels that tattoo culture in general is becoming more aligned with these practices, it should apply to other industries as well.

Unfortunately, the concept of informed consent is not always prioritized in many of them. Pressure to meet client expectations, maximize profits, or adhere to trends may overshadow ethical considerations. Moreover, the rise of social media and influencer culture has fueled a demand for instant transformations and viral-worthy looks, potentially compromising the integrity of the client-artist relationship. Unlicensed “book me” stylists and invasive cosmetic procedures becoming more

Planned Parenthood Champions Community Program During Pride

Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania proudly provides a wide range of reproductive health care services, including the Care Always There HIV Testing & Support Program! Care Always There is a relatively new program run by Kenneth McDowell, Richard Wilson and is set apart by its community engagement focus. Our staff are relatable, knowledgeable, and nearly unflappable, handling challenging questions with sensitivity and honesty.

Kenneth: "My mission is to create Safe Spaces for all, in Western PA neighborhoods. To hang out, have fun, and give information and education on healthy relationships, consent, and sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS everywhere people are."

Richard hosts a bi-weekly game night at QMNTY Center, every other Tuesday at 6:30 P.M. Learn more at qmntycenter.org/

Care Always There also offers supplies, resources and support to all community members, not just those living with HIV or those currently at risk, through various Early Intervention Services. EIS aims to help people live sexually healthy and responsible lives that set the stage for healthy futures. We meet people where they are and act as a resource for partners and professionals who support People Living With HIV or at risk individuals everyday.

Some of the topics are covered, with variations for age/developmental levels, are: 1. Understanding HIV and AIDS

Prevention strategies

Stigma and discrimination:

Risk factors

Testing and treatment

Global impact

Advocacy and activism

Photo courtesy of: Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh’s biggest and most diverse global celebration!

accessible necessitates some urgency when it comes to self-advocacy and considering the risks involved, and by elevating ethical standards, we can foster a culture of trust, respect, and a thenticity ithin these vario s fields

We can also empower ourselves to have more of a hand in these practices and requesting a better quality o care his entails ongoing edcation, sel re ection, and a commitment to prioriti ing ell eing Informed consent is not just a box to

check; it’s the cornerstone of ethical practices, and by embracing the principles of autonomy, safety, and cultural sensitivity, service providers can create transformative experiences that honor each client’s unique identity r e ea ty lies not j st in the final res lt, t in the mind l and respectful process that precedes all the many things we have done for the p rpose o gender a firmation, self-care, or simply to just feel good about ourselves •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

PMA Tattoo located at 637 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks

QUEER AND LONELY

Amid a loneliness epidemic, LGBTQ people are suffering. A new study digs into the numbers and proposes solutions

After U. S. Surgeon General

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy declared a nationwide epidemic of loneliness, the Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative released a comprehensive report in March outlining the relationship between social connection and health outcomes in the LGTBQ community. Murthy’s advisory noted that one out of two Americans reported experiencing loneliness even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For LGBTQ+ people, that statistic is even higher.

Eidos was launched in 2022 at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing. According to the initiative’s report, 75% of sexual-minority adults feel at least moderately lonely. This data emerged from a research study that surveyed 7,856 adults across 85 countries. Not only do LGBTQ people experience significantly higher levels of loneliness, the study found, but also poorer health outcomes that result from isolation.

“LGBTQ+ individuals who report isolation and loneliness are more

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative Founding Faculty Director José Bauermeister speaks about health equity at the Penn Nursing Summer Innovation Institute.

likely to report chronic disease, poor self-rated health, mental health conditions, and suicidality,” the report states.

This evidence-based report draws a clear connection between the social disparities faced by the LGBTQ community and the negative consequences of isolation and loneliness. Discrimination, marginalization, and stigmatization historically have led to less access to opportunities and resources such as family members’ support, safe school spaces, routine healthcare, and legal protection. To avoid rejection, disrespect, and negative reactions, many LGBTQ individuals withdraw from relationships. Some individuals avoid seeking medical care, fearing continued discrimination and judgment.

“In the 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, 53% of participants reported being verbally harassed, 32% were not allowed to dress the way they wanted, and 25% received discipline

for standing up to bullies,” another finding notes.

Research studies continually show improvement in mental and physical health outcomes when those in the LGBTQ community are provided with feelings of belonging and access to social support.

“MUCH

average of 29% of U.S. households.

The Eidos team tells Pittsburgh City Paper they recognize the need for social solutions to create relational change to break the barriers of loneliness and isolation and the need for innovation to achieve LGBTQ health equity.

OF OUR COUNTRY’S SLOW PROGRESS TO ADDRESS THOSE DISPARITIES HAS TO DO WITH A LACK OF INVESTMENT

AND RESOURCES.”

The Pittsburgh community may experience more isolation than other cities. According to the one analysis by the Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh ranks as the sixth-loneliest city in America behind Cleveland. Census Bureau housing data determined that 46.1% of Pittsburghers live alone as opposed to the National

“Eidos was formed in response to decades of evidence that marginalization and discrimination continue to lead to physical and mental health disparities for LGBTQ+ people,” says James Wolfe, senior innovation manager at Eidos. “Much of our country’s slow progress to address those disparities has to do with a lack of

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investment and resources: only about 1% of the National Institute of Health’s research grants go to LGBTQ+ topics, only 23 cents of every $100 awarded by philanthropic foundations go to LGBTQ+ causes, and only 0.5% of the money invested in startup companies goes to LGBTQ+ founders.”

Creating effective change in LGBTQ health outcomes starts with addressing the core issues of isolation and loneliness. “Eliminating those disparities requires social solutions that create greater social

belonging,” Wolfe says. The Eidos report encourages individuals to address LGBTQ health disparities by cultivating social inclusion, belonging, and access to cultural resources.

There are many examples of Pittsburgh-based organizations striving for positive change. According to their website, the PGH Equality Center serves as a bridge that promotes education, advocacy, and social justice for all LGBTQ people and allies in Western Pennsylvania. Central Outreach Wellness Center

is a holistic, multicultural, LGBTQIA, HIV, and Hepatitis C health organization. The Persad Center also focuses extensively on improving mental health outcomes among LGBTQ Pittsburghers, as does Allies for Health + Wellbeing. These are just a few of the organizations striving to create safe spaces and equitable health outcomes locally.

Wolfe says, “Whatever work you do, assume LGBTQ+ people are part of the public you serve. We seek healthcare, need housing, pursue education,

use childcare, and invest in local communities just like anyone else.

“The reason we need LGBTQspecific health solutions at this cultural moment is because the assumption has been that we aren’t part of these communities and haven’t been considered in the development of programs, policies, products, and services. Seeing LGBTQ+ people as part of the community you serve gets us all closer to developing shared solutions that work for everyone.” •

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MICHAEL FISHER

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel L. Levine meets with the Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative team and affiliated faculty at Penn School of Nursing.

LOUD AND LOCAL

Loud & Proud Music Festival offers a queer-run Pride event highlighting Pittsburgh music

BY JORDAN SNOWDEN // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

Pride Month events in Pittsburgh focus on bringing in big-name music acts, and this year is no exception — the Pride on the Shore lineup, for example, runs the gamut from progressive pop favorite Chappell Roan to Dance Moms kid-turned-wannabe goth baddie JoJo Siwa.

But those looking for a music event that features local acts, creators, and vendors, and supports local LGBTQ organizations now have Loud & Proud Music Festival, a new celebration organized and run by a queer-identifying Pittsburgh couple.

The inaugural Loud & Proud kicks off on Sun., June 2 at Ormsby Avenue Cafe’s outdoor space in Mt. Oliver. The event was created by J. Trafford and Candrika Rice, who play in respective bands (Rice in Lylyth and Trafford in Sommelier.)

Trafford tells Pittsburgh City Paper that, while other big Pride events like those taking place Downtown are “a fun and awesome time,” Loud & Proud offers “different experiences.”

PHOTO: PAUL KOTLINSKI Sommelier

“[Loud & Proud] has an extremely local focus,” Trafford says. “All of the performers are Greater Pittsburgh area, LGBTQ performers. All of the vendors are area vendors and craft creators as well. It’s very, very grassroots, very locally focused. That’s the experience that we’re aiming for.”

The Loud & Proud website touts a “diversity of LGBTQ+ talent from the Greater Pittsburgh area and surrounding regions” — besides Lylyth and Sommelier, the roster also includes Bryce Bowyn, Odd Atrocity, Sherry CD-ROM, King Blue Heron, K9Diet, Rhythm of the Night Fusion Band, V.V.itch, Casey Catone, Kumanji Johnson, and a DJ set by Pwuppy.

“Gumlock Records, a local DIY indie label, are actually putting together a compilation of all the artists who are performing and some of the ones who submitted, but we weren’t able to fit [everything],” Rice tells City Paper. “We’re going to have

LOUD AND LOCAL, CONTINUES ON PG. 28

PHOTO: COURTESY OF J. TRAFFORD

Loud & Proud organizers

J. Tra ord and Candrika Rice

physical CDs. And it’ll probably be on Bandcamp, too.”

All proceeds from Loud & Proud will benefit the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation. Founded in 2017, the nonprofit — named after the founder’s uncle, Hugh “Huey” Lane, who passed away from HIV-related complications in the 1990s — aims to improve the health of LGBTQ+ and HIVpositive Western Pa. communities by offering an array of resources and services, like wellness programs, gender and sexuality training services, support groups, and beyond.

Proceeds from the compilation album and from Catatouille, a nonprofit food truck that will be on-site selling plant-based, international street cuisine, will also go to the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation.

In the past two years, Trafford and Rice claim to have collectively

PHOTO: J. TRAFFORD Lylyth

Kicking Off Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month with

a Touchdown!

BY: LEIGH FRANK

The facts and statistics surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia are absolutely heartbreaking. For example:

• 7 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s

• 1 in 3 senior citizens will die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia

• In 2024, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the country $360 billion, and those costs could climb to nearly $1 trillion by 2050

But for those who have loved ones living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia or have lost ones to the disease, statistics really just scratch at the surface of how difficult and painful the disease is for everyone affected.

It is not uncommon for people to feel helpless in the face of the disease. Fortunately, the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is fighting this battle on many fronts and offers several opportunities in June to support the organization and those affected by Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Additionally, it’s a time to raise funds to support transformative research that extends healthy lives, continues memories, and provides hope for millions. The Greater Pennsylvania Chapter has a fantastic slate of educational and fun events planned for June.

RivALZ to End ALZ!

To kick off the month, professional young women of Pittsburgh will be coming together for the 2024 RivALZ to End ALZ! This volunteer-driven flag football game will occur on Friday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m. at Highmark Stadium. The event is free to attend, with a postgame party at 9:00 p.m.

RivALZ began in the fall of 2005 as Blondes vs. Brunettes®, a flag football event organized by a group of young professional women in Washington, D.C. The event’s founders had personal connections to Alzheimer’s and designed it to drive awareness among a younger audience while raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Since the inaugural game in Washington, D.C., the event has grown to more than 50 cities, raising more than $18 million and attracting thousands of new supporters.

In 2016, Pittsburgh took the gridiron for the first time and has participated ever since. Sophia Duck of North Braddock is the Chairperson of Pittsburgh’s RivALZ to End ALZ. She was a volunteer for the organization’s Walk to end ALZ and was asked to join the

committee to bring the event to Pittsburgh, and she hasn’t looked back since. According to Sophia, “It was an easy decision, given my love for sports and passion as a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association.”

When asked why this cause was so important to her, Sophia was emphatic, “I believe in a world of no dementia!! I lost a wonderful grandmother, Betty, to Alzheimer and it sucks that my niece and nephews didn’t get a chance to meet her when she was healthy, vibrant and amazing. My hope is that we find a cure and no one else in my family or anyone else’s family has to witness the way this disease takes memories and life from loved ones.”

New to the competition this year is Jordan Woodruff of Central Northside. She was recruited to the event by a friend. Still, she did not initially realize it was to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. When she learned of the connection, she was surprised, as her grandmother is currently battling the effects of Alzheimer’s. Jordan shared concerns about her risk of suffering the effects as she ages. She also shared her enthusiasm for contributing: “The more research and progress we make, the higher the chance of a cure for those potentially affected.”

As a returning player, Jordan is particularly excited about a few aspects of this year’s event, “I am looking forward to seeing how both the veteran players and newcomers come together to raise awareness and #EDNALZ together.” However, to her, it is so much more than just a flag football game, “every year is magical. This event has served as a way for me to cope with the now-loss of my grandmother and honor her legacy.” She continued, “every year, I meet others who are also remembering family members, and I am hopeful that we can find a cure immediately.”

Jordan is preparing to play a good game, “I’m making sure I’m physically ready but equally ready to speak at halftime on my personal experience with the disease.” She is also looking forward to having her family and friends at the stadium to support such an important cause.

Sophia would love for Pittsburghers to come out on June 7. “ We want to fill Highmark Stadium up and give families resources they may not have known were available before. At the game, you will be able to donate to support research and learn more about clinical trials, early detection, and the 10 warning signs. This event gives everyone a chance to make an impact, so come and be a part of the #END of ALZ with us!”

For complete event details, please visit https:// act.alz.org/pittsburghrivalz. To learn more about the research being funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, early signs of the disease, or resources available in our area, please visit https://www.alz.org/pa.

Be sure to stay tuned to Pittsburgh City Paper throughout June to learn more about upcoming events and opportunities to support a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias. •

Photo courtesy of: The Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

Sophia Duck, Chairperson of Pittsburgh’s RivALZ to End ALZ.

SHOP THE “LITTLE” CITY!

Spring Fleatique

Saturday, June 1st, 8:00AM -3PM - three miles of flea market booths, sidewalk sales, antiques, food, and two new shops opening that day

The Monongahela Farmers’ Market

13 Friday afternoons, 3-6PM, beginning June 7th, Fresh produce, craft vendors, and live music by the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts

Rockin’ on the Mon

Nine Saturday evenings of live music at the Monongahela Aquatorium, beginning June 29th, Plus live music nearby each weekend at Dead Head Winery, Ripepi

The

and

And the biggest event of all: 4th of July Fireworks at the Aquatorium, with a youth Street Fair 6-9PM the same evening

For schedules, check

raised around $6,000 for local nonprofits s ch as risis enter orth, nd or hoice, is ers , rans niting , and the reater itts rgh rea ood ank thro gh organi ed events like n ar l o are , a concert that enefited orthside ood antry, and o nd t , a enefit concert and ook drive or iteracy itts rgh

o ndation I think anything that e can do to oost a signal to more people ho might not e amiliar ith their ork is a really positive thing rafford e plains that the concert represents a gro p effort oc sed on sho casing local m sic and helping the area s comm nity ll o the talent are per orming at o d ro d ree o charge,

“IT’S VERY, VERY GRASSROOTS, VERY LOCALLY FOCUSED. THAT’S THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE’RE AIMING FOR.”

hen I have the capacity to p t together an event like this, I take a look o tside o my o n oc s and the things that I kno a o t and try to do a little it more research on things I m n amiliar ith that are happening in itts rgh, rafford says I as n amiliar ith the gh ane ellness o ndation, and having done a little it o research on it, I m thinking to mysel , hat can e do to share this ith o r comm nity ho may or may not e amiliar ith the

donating their time, rafford says s are all o the staff e have photographers ho are part o this and vario s event staff ho are really doing this eca se they elieve in the o ndation and hat they do he iggest thing e re still trying to hammer home at this point is that e re orking ith the gh ane ellness o ndation, and everything is going to them It s all on ehal o them •

1-9 p.m. Sun., June 2 Ormsby Avenue Cafe 402 Ormsby Ave., Mt. Oliver $12 in advance • $15 day of show sommelierband.com/shows

Winery,

Drunken Hippie bar,

Rosie’s Anchor Bar.

Photo by Jacob H. Ford Photography

the Facebook pages and web sites of: Monongahela Area Chamber of Commerce, Monongahela Farmers’ Market, Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, Aquatorium Innovations, Dead Head Winery, Ripepi Winery, The Drunken Hippie bar, Rosie’s Anchor Bar, and the Monongahela Main Street Program

“A BUNCH OF US HAVE CHECKED OUT PUP PLAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE GONE TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, AND WE CAN SAY THAT THERE IS NO OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN PITTSBURGH.”

THAT DOG IN ME

Pittsburgh just might be the “pup play” capital. These are the folks

growing the scene

BY JESSIE SAGE // INFO@PGHCITYPAPER.COM

After Crimby graduated from college in West Virginia a few years ago, he moved to Pittsburgh and started a job at the Andy Warhol Museum. While it was common for groups of people to come into the museum in various costumes, none of them captured his attention quite like the group of pet players that came in during one of his shifts.

Over a Zoom call, he tells me about that day with the same excitement he had then. “When I saw them,

I just felt like they had this aura. Like, ‘I’m doing my thing, and I don’t really care what you think because we all share this world, and I’m going to enjoy my piece of it,’” he says. “I just got obsessed with it at that point.”

Shortly after that, the pandemic hit, and he had a year off ork to think about how to enter the pet play community that he now considers home. He settled on his name and decided that, within his play, he would become a Husky.

For the unfamiliar, pet play is a

form of kink roleplay that is typically practiced within a BDSM context. It has roots in gay leather culture but is rapidly expanding and becoming more inclusive. Humans dress as pets (commonly as “pups,” but also as other animals) and often enter dominant/submissive relationships with a “handler.” Like all subcultures, pet players come to the community with varying interests and motivations. For some pups, their pet play is an extension of their sexuality; for others, it is separate.

Pup Starry, who plays an American Shepherd Corgi mix, tells me over Zoom, “For me, it’s just getting on all fours and being in a very primal and raw state.” But he is quick to add, “If you ask 100 pups or pets what pet play is, e pect to get a h ndred different ans ers eca se it s different or every pet.”

hiskey, ho identifies as a o within the Pittsburgh pet scene, tells me, “Pet play, for me, is about allowing myself to be silly. We are all adults, and so we know that acting

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Pups gather outside of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on May 23, 2024.

like animals is a very silly, nonsensical, whimsical thing.” While they like the wildness of pet play and aren’t as interested in being controlled by a handler, they see the handlers as having an important role in creating the conditions for this play. “A handler’s role is to allow and guide pets in the space to shed their humanness for a couple of hours,” they say. “To just be a more feral, silly, fun, cute creature.”

While 100 different definitions are possible, shedding humanness does seem to be a common theme among the people I interviewed. Asami , who coordinates one of the local pet play groups Paws and Claws, tells me, “One of the primary goals of this type of play is to be able to drop away some of your humanness, responsibilities, and worries, and be carefree, open, and honest.”

Crimby agrees, adding that this is one of the best parts of the pet play. “You get down into the head space and you can peel off the onion layers of the world that suck,” he says. “I don’t care about my power bill when I’m dressed like a dog. I’m just like, ‘Oh look, a bird!’”

Lt. Mittens, who has been into pet play for 19 years and identifies as transgen der and autistic, says that shredding this human ness is akin to being able to stop masking (a

term used by neurodivergent people to mean hiding autism or ADHD to avoid stigma). At 6’2” in her human form, she started to identify as a Great Dane in her play. “As a pup, I don’t worry about masking or any of those things that come with, just, day-to-day life,” she says. “So that has been a really great experience for me; it just changed me, you know?” She also points out that being in pup space allows her to communicate non-verbally, which is a relief.

It makes sense that this play would be effective in helping to shed human concerns. While there are various ways to engage, at the level of community, romps —events where pets come together to play and interact — embody playfulness, joy, and fun. Of a romp that Crimby and Asami used to co-host together in Pittsburgh, Crimby says, “You look in one corner and there’d be a bunch of people just playing around with toys. You would look in another and there’s a group of people wrestling. And you look in another one and there’d be a couple cuddled up together on a mat on the floor.”

In other words, the romp is an accepting space for all the pets to come and find the activities that best suit their desires and moods.

It would be wrong, though, to assume that pet players are

only focused on escapism. Part of what they are doing, as pets and as a community, is resisting and reimagining the world we live in: the human world. These efforts extend beyond the romp. whiskey’s interest in kink communities grew in connection to the anti-racist social justice work they were doing. “I started in social justice and political organizing and pivoted once I found my niche in kink and in the overall sexual and general health of marginalized communities,” they say. “I work to create spaces for all; that includes femmes, disabled queer folks, trans folks, fat folks. My specific work is about ensuring that these people feel seen,

safe, and heard and that they allow themselves to feel pleasure in a world that’s actively trying to destroy them at every turn.”

Crimby and Asami, who are both now on the board at Steel City Pups — a local organization for pups and handlers (PAH) that started in 2019 — are also actively working to create more diversity within the community. Crimby says, “We have done a good job of bringing in people who are gender neutral, trans, AFAB.” He says this is something that they have had to work hard to do given pup play’s origin in the gay male leather community.

With greater gender diversity also comes more diversity of other

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Pups gather outside of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON Iron City Pup

kinds, including body diversity. “We want people to know that everyone can be in this community. You don’t have to be some super ripped, conventionally attractive guy to be a part of this,” Crimby says. “I weigh almost 300 pounds, and they love me to death.” Case in point, Crimby is the reigning Iron City Pup — a title given out as part of a Pittsburgh Leather Pride competition.

The amazing thing about the Pittsburgh pup community is that it is robust enough to include folks from all walks of life. Steel City Pups maintains much of its gay leather culture while also opening space for others. And Paws and Claws — a Pittsburghbased petplay group run by Asami — has an active rotation of munches, romps, classes, and social activities.

Lt. Mittens says, “I’ve competed in the Iron City Pup competition, and I go out to a lot of the pound puppy social events, which are the last Thursday of the month at Brewers Hotel and Bar. "There is a lot to do,

and it’s a good time.”

Not only is it a good time, but it is a place to call home for many people who haven’t found that in other places. Lt. Mittens comments, “You gain packs with people, it’s another kind of bond and it’s special.” She goes on, “Being trans and on the spectr m, I gre p alone o, finding this community in Pittsburgh where I can just be weird with these people is such a good thing to have in my life.” Crimby echoes this sentiment.

“Everyone has become my family. I’ve never had this kind of belonging. I have fallen in love with it; this is my family now.” This seems particularly true here in Pittsburgh. He says, “A bunch of us have checked out pup play across the country and have gone to international competitions, and we can say that there is no other city in the country that has what we have here in Pittsburgh. Everyone talks about their city having community, and we have that, too, but what we also have is family.” •

CP PHOTO: MARS JOHNSON

"Redd" poses for a portrait outside of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

SAT., JUNE 1

PRIDE EVENTS IN PITTSBURGH

There are more Pride events in Pittsburgh than there are days in June, the month designated to recognize LGBTQ culture, contributions, and history. This year, the city kicks things o at the end of May with big musical acts at Pride on the Shore, multiple Pride parades, and other fun-filled happenings. From there, revelers will find everything from dance parties and drag shows to family-friendly neighborhood Pride events, and much more. See below for a large sampling of events to let your rainbow flag fly.

THU., MAY 30

PARTY • NORTH SIDE

AIDS Free Pittsburgh and True T PGH present Too Hot For July. 4-10 p.m. Allegheny Commons East Park. 301 E. Ohio St., North Side. Free. toohotforjuly.com

COMEDY • SHADYSIDE

MAYFRI.,31

FRI., MAY 31

PARADE/MUSIC • NORTH SIDE

Pgh Pride: Still We Rise. 2-8 p.m. Continues through June 2. Allegheny Commons Park West. 525 East Ohio St., North Side. Free. VIP access available for some events. pittsburghpride.com

MUSIC • NORTH SHORE

OUTDOORS • BLOOMFIELD

Yinz Run Club presents Misfits’ Pride Run. 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Trace Brewing. 4312 Main St., Bloomfield. $20 to run. Proceeds benefit True T. instagram.com/yinzrunclub

PARTY • BLOOMFIELD

Mostbeautifullest presents Real Hot Girl Shit: The Pride Edition. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Cobra. 4305 Main St., Bloomfield. $10-50. cobrapgh. com/events

KARAOKE/PARTY • OAKLAND

Pride… The Trifecta. 9 p.m-2 a.m. P Town Bar. 4740 Baum Blvd., Oakland. $5. facebook.com/ ptownbarpgh

DRAG • LAWRENCEVILLE

Vain: Pittsburgh Pride with Raja of RuPaul’s Drag Race. 9 p.m. Spirit. 242 51st St., Lawrenceville. $25-50. spiritpgh.com

SUN., JUNE 2

PARTY • STATION SQUARE

Honcho Pride Boat with Mike Servito and Jellyfish 6 p.m. Gateway Clipper. 350 W. Station Square Dr., Station Square. $43.60. hotmasspgh.com

THU., JUNE 6

FESTIVAL • ASPINWALL

Pride in the Park. 5-8 p.m. Allegheny RiverTrail Park. 285 River Ave., Aspinwall. Free. All ages. fcprideinthepark.com

FRI., JUNE 7

Queer Comedy Showcase with JoeMyGosh. 9 p.m. 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe. 5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. Free. facebook.com/5801VideoLounge

Pride on the Shore with Natasha Bedingfield, Keke Palmer, JoJo Siwa, Hannah Rad, and Kitty Glitter. 2 p.m. Stage AE. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. $49.50. prideontheshorepgh.com

SPORTS • NORTH SHORE

MUSIC • MILLVALE

JUNESAT.,15

Pride Month Eve Celebration in Song with Phat Man Dee 7 p.m. Sprezzatura. 112 East Sherman St., Millvale. $15-40. sprezzaturapgh.com

PARTY • OAKLAND

Dancing Queen: Disco Pride 9 p.m. P Town Bar. 4740 Baum Blvd., Oakland. $10. facebook. com/icandy.pgh

PARTY • HIGHLAND PARK

SPLOOSH! Freaky Pride Party 11 p.m.-7 a.m.

Certain Death II. 7775 Lock Way E, Highland Park. $20 in advance, $30 at the door (cash only). instagram.com/uhauldisco

Pirates Pride Night. 6:40 p.m. PNC Park. 115 Federal St., North Shore. $23-24. mlb.com

SAT., JUNE 8

GALA/ART • MCKEES ROCKS

Vogue Through History Gallery and Masquerade Ball 8-11 p.m. Gallery show continues through June 14. The Castle Consortia. 700 Seventh St., McKees Rocks. $30-100. eepgh.com/castle-events

SUN., JUNE 9

VARIETY SHOW • DOWNTOWN Hugh Lane Wellness Pride Variety Show and Brunch. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hotel Monaco. 620 William Penn Pl., Downtown. $95-110. hughlane.org

PHOTO: COURTESY OF ZENNI Keke Palmer at Pride on the Shore

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOHEME

The Gay Dog Pageant at Boheme, part of Lawrenceville Pride

SUN., JUNE 16

MARKET • HIGHLAND PARK

THU., JUNE 27

GAME SHOW • ALLENTOWN

SAT., JUNE1

FESTIVAL • ROSS TOWNSHIP

Ross Pride. 1-4 p.m. 1000 Ross Municipal Dr., Ross Township. Free. All ages. Search “Ross Pride” on Facebook

FESTIVAL • GARFIELD

Dry Pride: A Completely Non-Alcoholic Pride Celebration 1-8 p.m. Two Frays Brewery. 5113 Penn Ave., Garfield. Free. instagram.com/twofraysbrewery

SAT., JUNE 15

FESTIVAL • LAWRENCEVILLE

Lawrenceville Pride 12-5 p.m. Multiple locations, Lawrenceville. Free. lvpgh.com/pride

FESTIVAL • VANDERGRIFT

Vandergrift PRIDE in the Park 12-8 p.m. Kennedy Park. 526 Jackson Ave., Vandergrift. Free. All ages. facebook.com/vanderpride

FESTIVAL • MT. OLIVER

Art Oliver Pride. 5-9 p.m. 100-200 block of Brownsville Rd., Mt. Oliver. Free. facebook.com/ diiviinetimepgh

Queer Craft Market: Pride Edition 5-8 p.m. Union Project. 801 N. Negley Ave., Highland Park. Free. instagram.com/ queercraftmarket

THU., JUNE 20

BURLESQUE • STRIP DISTRICT

Glitter & Glow: Velvet Hearts Pittsburgh Burlesque Pride Celebration. 8 p.m. Doors at 6:30 p.m. City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. $25-40. citywinery.com

FRI., JUNE 21

MEET CUTE: Pride Edition with Rachel Ann Bovier. 7:30 p.m. Doors at 5 p.m. Bottlerocket Social Hall. 1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown. $12. bottlerocketpgh.com

FRI., JUNE 28

FESTIVAL • HIGHLAND PARK

Family Pride Night. 6-9 p.m. Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. 7370 Baker St., Highland Park. $25. All ages. pittsburghzoo.org

FESTIVAL • DOWNTOWN

MARKET • MCKEES ROCKS

Pride Unhinged Market. 6 p.m.The Castle Consortia. 700 Seventh St., McKees Rocks. Free. instagram.com/castleconsortia

PARTY • NORTH SIDE

LGBTQ+ Youth Prom: Welcome to the Queernival. 6-10 p.m. The Andy Warhol Museum. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. Free. Open youth 13–18. Registration required. warhol.org

GALA • ROSS TOWNSHIP

New Wave Libations and The Open Road present Pride AF 2024. 7-11 p.m. Sunken Bus Studios. 3312 Babcock Blvd., Ross Township. $65. newwavepgh.com/pride-af-gala

SAT., JUNE 22

FESTIVAL • MILLVALE

PRIDE Millvale. 12-8 p.m. Multiple locations, Millvale. Free. All ages. pridemillvale.org

TUE., JUNE 25

FESTIVAL • GREENFIELD

Greenfield Family Pride Night. 5-8 p.m. Magee Rec Center. 745 Greenfield Ave., Greenfield. Free. All ages. gcapgh.org

Pride and Joy Community Day and Concert. 5 p.m. August Wilson African American Cultural Center. 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Free, $20 after 8 p.m. awaacc.org

SUN., JUNE 30

FESTIVAL • WILKINSBURG

People’s Pride presents Wilkinsburg Pride Parade and Music Festival. 10 a.m. Turner Elementary School. 1833 Laketon Rd., Wilkinsburg. Free. sisterspgh.org

FRI., JUNE7

PHOTO: ALYSA RUBIN Pirates Pride Night at PNC Park

Pastor sought by St Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, PA who can preach, provide biblical counseling, and lead a Bible study. Req. MA & Ordination. Email resume to SMELchurch@proton.me

HELP WANTED

LIVE-IN NANNY

Live-In Nanny wanted, full time in home care for 4 children. Bilingual required (English/Portuguese). Bachelor’s degree in education/architecture or business required. Good driving record, valid drivers license, previous nanny experience and experience with autism/ special needs children all required. Plum area. Email resume to Apollo Household apollohousehold@gmail.com

MARKET PLACE

Need Help with Family Law?

Can’t Afford a $5000 Retainer?

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You Go- As low as $750-$1500Get Legal Help Now! Call 1-844-821-8249 Mon-Fri 7am to 4pm PCT (AAN CAN) https://www.familycourtdirect. com/?network=1

DECEASED OF PITTSBURGH, PA

Dorothy Jean Vita, deceased, of Pittsburgh, PA. No. 02410 of 2024. Cynthia A. Vita, Ext. 117 Reaghard Dr., Cheswick, PA 15024.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letters of Administration in the Estate of Matthew Sapanara a/ka Matthew Sapanara, Jr., late of Penn Hills, AlleghenyCounty, Pennsylvania, who died on December 27, 2011, have been granted to Carol Ann Sapanara, Administratrix. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make payment and those having claims or demands are requested to present the same without delay to: David E. Schwager, Esquire 183 Market Street Suite 100 Kingston, PA 18704-5444

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of MARJORIE A. BOSCHELE a/k/a MARJORIE ANN BOSCHELE, deceased Late of 19th Ward, City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Letters Testamentary on the above estate having been granted to the undersigned, all persons indebted to the said estate are requested to make payment, and those having claims or demands against the estate to make the same known, without delay, to:

WILLIAM J. BOSCHELE, Executor c/o SUSAN

MANKAMYER, Esquire

P.O. Box 744

Davidsville, PA 15928 No. 022403463

STUDY

SMOKERS WANTED

The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab is looking for people to participate in a research project. You must:

• Currently smoke cigarettes

• Be 18-49 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English

• Be right handed, willing to not smoke before two sessions, and to fill out questionnaires

Earn up to $260 for participating in this study.

For more information, call (412) 407-5029

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-003398, In re petition of Yun-Lan Chang, parent and legal guardian of Yi Yao Lin and Yi Jung Lin, minors, for change of names to Ethan Yiyao Lin and Isaac Yijung Lin. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 20th day of June 2024, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

NAME CHANGE

IN The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: No. GD-24-004612

In re petition of Tina-Lisa Agresta Parrilla for change of name to Valentina Theodora Agresta-Parrilla. To all persons interested: Notice is hereby given that an order of said Court authorized the filing of said petition and fixed the 20th day of June, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., as the time and the Motions Room, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA, as the place for a hearing, when and where all persons may show cause, if any they have, why said name should not be changed as prayed for.

44.  “That’s a little harsh”

47.  Warm up

48.  Waiting with bated breath

51.  Big name in gas

52.  “This second!”

53.  “This second!”

54.  Returns org.

poem

17.

19.  Legally block

20.  With 27-Down, website launched by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

21.  Overflow (with)

23.  “___ ‘Friends’ Electric?” (Gary Numan song)

24.  Award for jingles

26.  Granola sweetener

29.  Blue underlined text, e.g.

30.  Removes

31.

See 31-Down

32.  Elon Musk and Tim Cook, e.g.

33.  Small amounts

37.  With 39-Across, “What a beautiful day, I’ll wear my tank top” ... and a cryptic explanation for the shaded squares on this side of the grid

39.  See 37-Across ... and a cryptic explanation for the shaded squares on this side of the grid

41.  Heap praises on

42.

Bit of dust

43.  Uno, due, ___, ...

55.  Stupefy

57.  Strong assets

62.  Slowmoving creek

63.  Look all over 64.  Chipped bowl?

65.  Kind of tea

66.  Kind of run down

67.  Middleearth race

DOWN

1.  Soccer game chau eur, probably

2.  Fancy tuna selection

3.  One of six in Risk

4.  All-knowing

5.  Early hrs.

6.  Tech sch. near Albany

7.  Styles of trousers that share its name with a spinning toy

8.  Muscles

9.  “I can live with this”

10.  Celtics star Horford, and namesakes

11.  Put a new price one, say

12.  Roman marketplace

13.  Bouncing o

the walls

18.  “Well, I guess so”

22.  Brian who said “I take sounds and change them into words”

24.  With 31-Across “Dodged a bullet there!”

25.  Server language

26.  Coleur on the French flag

27.  See 20-Across

28.  Ships that travel through wormholes, supposedly 32.  Rome tourist attraction

34.  Just out of the way

35.  Glows

36.  Dishes of leftovers

38.  Annual speech from the pres.

39.  Slimy gunks

40.  Alternative magazine name

42.  Inigo ___ (The Princess Bride swordsman)

45.  Make a decision (to)

46.  Driveway application

47.  By way of, briefly 48. Dancing With The Stars judge Carrie Ann ___

49.  Roberto Duran resignation

50.  Convinces

54.  Classic road trip game

56.  Su ix with proto58.  Badminton barrier

59.  Word with “health” or “check”

60.  Up to, briefly

61.  Letters on a Hawaiian Tropic bottle