Pittsburgh Pride Magazine 2019

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE

PITTSBURGH PRIDE 2019

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

TONI BRAXTON SATURDAY, JUNE 8

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AT EQT, WE CELEBRATE AND LEARN FROM OUR DIFFERENCES. TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER.

Inclusive communities foster environments for stronger business, stronger families, stronger neighborhoods. EQT values the importance of celebrating all members of our communities and is proud of the strides we've made to foster an LGBT-inclusive environment that encourages all employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Join us for the Equality March and all the festivities Pittsburgh Pride has to offer!

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

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RS OF E N T R PA ESS R G O R P

The 2019 Nissan Rogue®

In the shared spirit of progress, Nissan proudly supports the LGBTQ community on the road to equality.

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Always wear your seat belt, and please don’t drink and drive. © 2019 Nissan North America, Inc.

We’re proud of everyone we share our community with.

UPMC is proud to support the LGBTQ community, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Pride as they work to build a more inclusive and caring region.

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PUBLISHER

BOARD MEMBERS

Proud supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.

Jeff Freedman Martin Healey W. Jonathan Holmes Charles W. Honse* Patrick J. Journet William R. Kaelin* Dr. Stacy Lane Charles C. Lukehart Eddie McAndrews August “Buzz” C. Pusateri Jim Sheppard Dena Stanley Donnie R. Thinnes* Charles P. Tierney** Gary A. Van Horn, Jr.

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT

Christine Bryan ART DIRECTION

A to Z Communications For questions, comments, and advertising inquiries, please email info@deltafoundation.us Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh 911 Galveston Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233

* Emeritus Board Members ** Deceased

The mission of the Delta Foundation is to be a vigilant catalyst for change that produces increased opportunities and a high quality of life for the LGBTQ community in Western Pennsylvania.

Opinions and claims made by advertisers are those of the advertisers ONLY. The Delta Foundation accepts no liability for claims made by advertisers.

All rights reserved. © 2019 Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

TABLE OF CONTENTS Calendar of Events...................................................................................12

Toni. Toni. Toni! ......................................................................................64

Welcome Letters.......................................................................................16

13 Lucky Facts About Toni Braxton.......................................................66

Contributors.............................................................................................21

Your Complete Guide to Pittsburgh Pride.............................................59

Special Thanks..........................................................................................22

The Category is…Pose Realness!.............................................................84

Love is Kosher..........................................................................................26

The One.....................................................................................................86

History of Pittsburgh Pride.....................................................................30

Amsterdam—They’ll Leave the Red Light On for You...............................................................................90

Get Ready For Rina!.................................................................................40 At home in the United Methodist Church............................................46 My Anonymous Transition.....................................................................52 SHUT UP! Walk the Moon comes to Pittsburgh Pride ......................................................................60 15 Fun Facts About Walk The Moon......................................................63

35 Years of the Pitt Men’s Study............................................................96 Pink Pages: Your resource guide to anything & everything......................................................................103 The Power of Pride: A Report to the Community A special supplement to the Pittsburgh Pride Magazine..........................114

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SATURDAY, MAY 11

Ohio Valley Pride ohiovalleypride.org

SUNDAY, MAY 26

Big Gay Picnic

Noon | North Park Lodge

pittsburghpride.org/tickets

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Britsburgh Presents: Afternoon Tea with Kierra Darshell

2-4 p.m. |Omni William Penn Hotel For tickets, email britsburghteas@ hotmail.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

PrideFest

Noon-6 p.m.

Ft. Duquesne Blvd. & the Andy Warhol Bridge pittsburghpride.org

Pride Rocks PGH with Toni Braxton

7 p.m. | Ft. Duquesne Blvd. (between 7th & 9th Street) pittsburghpride.org/tickets

warhol.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

Lyft Presents: Wheels & Heels with Lola LeCroix 8 p.m. | 5801 | Shadyside FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Pride Rocks PGH with Walk the Moon 6 p.m. |Ft. Duquesne Blvd. (between 7th & 9th Street) pittsburghpride.org/tickets 12

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra 7:30 p.m. | Heinz Hall

pittsburghsymphony.org

LGBTQ+ Youth Prom 6-10 p.m. | Warhol Museum

THURSDAY, JUNE 27

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Equality March 12:30 p.m.

pittsburghpride.org

PrideFest

1-7 p.m. | Ft. Duquesne Blvd. & the Andy Warhol Bridge pittsburghpride.org

Pittsburgh Pride Official Closing Dance Party with DJ Tony Moran

7-10 p.m. | Ft. Duquesne Blvd. pittsburghpride.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

NYC to PGH: 50 Years After Stonewall Ellsworth Avenue | Shadyside pittsburghpride.org

SUNDAY, JULY 7

Tailgate & Pirates Pride Day Tailgate: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Allegheny Landing Game: 1:35 p.m. vs. Milwaukee Brewers PNC Park pittsburghpride.org

Pride 2019 ance party

sonated throughout dominated the tists like Mariah Britney Spears, nifer Lopez want to p-ranked DJ and The Moran Sound with JULY the24-28 latest Pittsburgh Black Pride Week pghblackpride.org

pop hits and wo-time SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 slowing down.

Trans Community Picnic 2-7 p.m. | North Park Lodge reedom to develop erms,SATURDAY, MoranSEPTEMBER -- like 7 enfold, Tiesto, Bob Riverhounds 3rd c across the globe Annual Night Out k. 7 p.m. | Highmark Stadium

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

TransPride Conference MONDAY, DECEMBER 2

Pitt Men's Study World AIDS Day Commemoration Service Heinz Chapel

DJ TONY MORAN

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AND THE THORCHESTRA Dear Friends: It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2019 Pittsburgh Pride celebration. Many of you have traveled from across our Commonwealth to salute the diversity and vibrancy of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ community.

In recent years, the LGBTQ community has enjoyed significant advances in the fight for civil rights and equality. However, we all know that many of those gains are fragile in today’s political climate. As your United States Senator, I proudly stand in solidarity with all members of the LGBTQ community in your continued fight for fairness and equal treatment. The progress that we have achieved together in recent years is the result of your resilience and unwavering commitment to fairness. Because of your advocacy, education and outreach, public support has been garnered and improvements in public policy have been made.

I would like to thank the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh and countless regional leaders and organizations from all sectors who are participating in this year’s celebration.We all know that we are stronger when we stand together and we still have so much work to do together in order to achieve full equality. As an ally of the LGBTQ community, I am committed to continue to fight to protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination, bullying, harassment, violence and intimidation. The Pittsburgh community and all of you are partners and leaders in the struggle to achieve those goals.

Please accept my best wishes for a safe and fun event. Happy Pride!

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr. United States Senator

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 AT 7:30 P.M. HEINZ HALL

The fabulous Thorgy Thor, famed worldwide from the hit show RuPaul’s Drag Race, joins the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a thrilling, thoughtful, and hilariously theatrical show!

The reigning “Queen of Classical Music” wields her outrageous fashion sense, razorsharp wit, and virtuoso classical chops to create a thrilling, theatrical, all-new show.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and your heart will throb as Thorgy slays with song, dance, and hilarious shenanigans in the U.S. premiere of this can’t-miss symphonic spectacular!

This performance will include some mature themes, adult supervision and audience discretion is advised.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

GREETINGS:

Happy Pride! I’m honored to be your ally in the celebration, and I’m looking forward to the festivities.

It is my pleasure to unite with the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh to welcome all gathered here today to Pittsburgh Pride 2019.

We truly are all “one,” as this year’s theme represents. It’s my hope that we’re moving toward a Pennsylvania, and a world, in which inclusivity is embraced and all people are treated fairly.

William Penn founded our commonwealth on the principles of fairness and tolerance, and I believe we must continue to be a place that pays faithful tribute to those core values. Together, we are creating We can celebrate some gains in this area. I applauded the Pennsylvania a Pennsylvania that is committed to being an environment that Human Relations Commission’s move last year to add sexual supports greater diversity and inclusion for the LGBTQ community orientation and gender identity to its definition of protected groups and beyond. I applaud the Delta Foundation for continuing our when investigating complaints of discrimination in employment, unite with founding the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh to welcome all gathered father’s legacy by advocating for LGBTQ acceptance and housing, education, and public spaces. It’s a ide 2018. non-discrimination through education, social involvement, and central idea of the laws governing this nation and this commonwealth, GS: outreach endeavors.

This organization partners have that everyone has the right to equal treatment when shopping, going ded our commonwealth on the principles of fairness and and its tolerance, and I touched the lives of many by providing resources, support, and encouragement a movie, or hanging out at a local coffee shop. It’s common sense, os be a place that pays faithful tribute to those core values.

Together, we my pleasure to unite with the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh to welcometoall gathered ia that is committed towestern being an environmentThis thatyear’s supports greater throughout Pennsylvania. theme, “We Are One,” yet sadly a notion that the LGBTQIA+ community hasn’t been able to to Pittsburgh Pride 2018. he LGBTQ sends community and beyond. applaud the the Delta Foundation forstand a message that no Imatter what obstacle we will take for granted. father’s legacy

by For advocating for LGBTQtoday, acceptance andtonontogether. those in attendance I am proud recognize your lliam ourand commonwealth on theThis principles of fairness and tolerance, and I headlines, we still see too many examples of cation,Penn social founded involvement, outreach endeavors. organization Behind the daily determination to face and overcome adversity, your commitment to ouched the lives toofbemany by that providing support,to and must continue a place pays resources, faithful tribute those core values. discrimination Together, wein our own communities, particularly against people breaking down and celebrating individuality.

I am western Pennsylvania.

Thisbarriers, year’s theme, “This Me,” represents the certainthat supports ng a Pennsylvania that is committed toIsbeing an environment of colorgreater and those who identify as transgender. We have more work that your example conviction, and camaraderie will unity and encourages braveryofthrough life’scompassion, challenges. For those in nd inclusion for the LGBTQ community and beyond.

I applaud the Delta Foundation to do, and I’llfor remain an advocate and ally as we fight for inclusion. inspire others for years totocome. oud to recognize your determination face and overcome adversity. I our founding father’s legacy by advocating for LGBTQ acceptance and nonI’ll continue to push for anti-discrimination laws until the message nt to breaking down barriers and celebrating individuality, and I am tion through education, involvement, and outreach endeavors. ThisPennsylvania organization Ascompassion, Governor, and on behalf of all theinspire citizens of the is sending is perfectly clear: that of conviction, andsocial camaraderie will others forCommonwealth years of Pennsylvania, am honored to welcome to Pittsburgh no person can artners have touched I the lives of many everyone by providing resources, support, andbe treated differently than someone else just because of Pride 2019.

Please Pennsylvania. accept my best This year’s theme, “This Is Me,” represents sexual orientation ment throughout western the or gender identity. We all deserve peace of mind. n behalf of wishes all the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am for a memorable event and continued success. rit of this community and encourages bravery through life’s challenges.

For those in yone to Pittsburgh Pride 2018. Please accept my best wishes for a We’ve long recognized that members of the LGBTQIA+ community today, I am proud to recognize your determination to face and overcome adversity.

I nued success. are vital and valuable friends and neighbors, that your commitment to breaking down barriers and celebrating individuality, and I am ‘We Are One’. Celebrate with your heads held high. Stay proud t your example of conviction, compassion, and camaraderie will inspire others for years and stay safe.

In solidarity, TOM WOLF Governor, and on behalf of all the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am Governor Tom Wolf o welcome everyone June 1-10, 2018 to Pittsburgh Pride 2018. Please accept my best wishes for a Governor e event and continued success.

John Fetterman Lieutenant Governor

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

County of Allegheny – Executive Office County Executive Rich Fitzgerald

City of Pittsburgh – Office of the Mayor Mayor William Peduto

Dear Friends:

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Allegheny County’s more than 1.2 million residents, I’m delighted to welcome you to 2019 Pittsburgh Pride. We look forward to this event every year, as it has always been a tremendous way to celebrate our LGBTQ community and those who work to make our region even more inclusive.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Pittsburgh Pride 2019. I am grateful for Pittsburgh’s LGBTQIA+ community and the many contributions they have provided to our city. I am proud of the great strides we have made together at ensuring that Pittsburgh is a city for all.

This year’s Pride is a particularly special one, coming just a few weeks prior to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that were such an important turning point in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. Our country and this area have come a long way since then. Last year, more than 150 LGBTQ candidates were voted into office nationally as part of a “rainbow wave” during the midterm election, including the country’s first openly gay governor. And, closer to home, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission last year added sexual orientation and gender identity to its definition of groups protected from discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations, such as restaurants and hotels.

The theme for this year’s celebration: “We Are One,” is a rightly appropriate sentiment for our city. This past year we faced several tragedies that tried to tear our community apart. Here in Pittsburgh, we recognize and uphold that a threat to anyone’s ability to be fully who they are is threat to all of us. Racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and all other forms of hate have no place in our city. We are doing great work in Pittsburgh, but I understand that there is still so much more we can do together to ensure equality for all.

While we’re thrilled with that progress, we know there is much more that we can do together to support greater diversity and inclusion in this region and beyond. In Allegheny County, we firmly believe that everyone, regardless of the characteristics that make us unique, including sexual orientation and identity, has the right to be treated fairly and feel welcome in their community. To that end, we are committed to protecting your rights and providing you with needed resources and support. For more information on how we can help, go to the county’s Human Relations Commission webpage.

I look forward to celebrating our accomplishments and continuing the necessary work that must be done in our communities. Once again, thank you for participating in Pittsburgh Pride 2019, and I look forward to joining you in celebration of our diverse community.

The theme of 2019 Pittsburgh Pride, “We Are One,” is perfect for Allegheny County. One thing this area has always done so well is work together, and when we do, we accomplish great things. We’re proud to support Pride, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, and other local LGBTQ-related events and organizations. Through collaboration, we will continue to break down barriers, increase opportunity, celebrate our diversity, and improve the quality of life for all who call this place home.

As Mayor, I urge you to stand against hate and stand together as one.

Sincerely,

William Peduto Mayor

Thank you to those who once again made Pride possible, and we hope everyone has a safe, fun time during this year’s festivities.

Sincerely,

Rich Fitzgerald County Executive

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

CONTRIBUTORS Yvonne Hudson

Chrissy Costa

is a writer and publicist, and has been a United Methodist for several decades. She is an active lay leader and choir member at Calvary United Methodist Church and a member of the Western Pennsylvania Reconciling Ministries clergy-laity group. As administrator of the Circle of Faith Pittsburgh Facebook page, she can be reached there with questions or information requests.

is a stand-up comedian, actress and freelance writer. She studied sketch comedy at Chicago's famed Second City. Her work has been featured in several local LBGTQ publications, and you may recognize her from her column, "Last Woman Standing."

She is a fan of activism, big earrings and causing an awkward silence.

Natty Soltesz

has worked in public health for the last ten years. More interestingly, he's a writer of gay erotic fiction whose first two story collections were Lambda Literary Award finalists. Check out his work at nattysoltesz.com.

Laura Cherner

is the Assistant Director of the Community Relations Council (CRC) at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. In this role, she acts as a liaison from the Jewish community to the broader community. She is a Mt. Lebanon native and graduate from the University of Pittsburgh.

Rick Sicilio

is the owner of Travel and Tours in Pittsburgh. He is an avid, worldwide traveler and has visited 68 countries to date. For over 21 years, Rick and his staff have been assisting clients to embrace their wanderlust and travel the world.

Interested in writing for the 2020 Pittsburgh Pride Magazine?

EMAIL:

info@DeltaFoundation.us Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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Marc Chametzky John Chapman Pam Cohen Cory Cope Candi Cybator Bill Creen Mark Cuban J. Grant Cupp Ray DeMichiei Anthony Dolan Amie Downs Chris Eckles David Edgar Marcie Eberhart Sgt. Carol Ehlinger Inspector Lisa Epps Honorable Rich Fitzgerald Tim Frank Evan Frazier Rachel Fredricks Jeff Freedman Mike Gable Melinda Gaus Arthur Germer Asst. Chief Amera Gilchrist Dan Gilman

Julie Hall Chuck Hammil Stephanie Hannon Todd Harris Alan Hausman Lt. Charles Henderson Jonathan Henry Wendall Hissrich Norm Hockendoner Cmd. Eric Holmes Diane Houser Dan Johnston Chief Darryl Jones Abass Kamara Marianne Karlovich Brian Katz Kevin Kinross Gail Klingensmith Michael Komo Asst. Chief Anna Kudrav Cmd. Jason Lando Joanne LaRose Dan Lavallee Jennifer Liptak Don MacLeod Maggie Hardy Knox

Mike Markun Jeff Martin Brandon Marzke Ofc. Amy Mattia George McCain Mary Minnock Ralph Morrow Felicia Mulhearn Sean Neubauer Collyn Pala Neal Parham Mayor Bill Peduto Ofc. Robert Plata Chief Matt Porter Grace Richards Michelle Robinson Chuck Rompala Ellen Rossi Tammy Sadler Jimmy Sampson Elizabeth Saraceno Eric Schmetzer Sgt. Brian Schmitt Michelle Schoenhardt Max Schwanger DeWayne Segafredo

Wade Shaner Lyndsey Sickler Kevin Simms-Smail Mark Simpson Chief Scott Schubert Sarah Sligh Laurel Spence Ofc. Dan Stoddard Shannon Storm Erika Strassburger Megan Sullivan Sandy Sztorc Camp Cmd. Ed Trapp Debra Van Horn Tina Vertes Larry Walsh Jeffrey Wankster Derek Weber Gene Welsh Stephanie Weyant Corey Wrigley Tom Yargo Ann Yeager Honorable Stephen Zappala Cmd. Cristyn Zett Lauren Zuccato

THANK YOU We salute our community champions & allies who are proud of who they are and where they work.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine Doctor Match is intended to help members choose a health care provider. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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STRONGER TOGETHER

by Laura Cherner I first participated in Pittsburgh Pride in 2017. I had been working in the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh's Community Relations Council (CRC) for less than a year, and organizing the Jewish community's participation in the Equality March was one of my first large-scale independent projects. While we have always had a presence at Pride, it was the first year we made a unified effort to march as a group.

We created the Love is Kosher brand with t-shirts and merchandize to generate some buzz, organized poster-making sessions at a local congregation, and started a social media marketing campaign to increase awareness. I was expecting a decent turnout considering all of our efforts, but the response from the Jewish community far surpassed what I had anticipated. We had over 140 members of our community march with us that year in the Equality March. Regardless of age, religious observance, background, or sexual orientation, all Jews came together to celebrate love and equality. To this day, I see members of the community proudly wearing their Love is Kosher t-shirts, decorating Jewish and non-Jewish spaces with the declaration that pride is all around us.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

As we marched that first year, I saw an older man holding hands with his partner, looking on at the parade with something that can only be described as awe. I found myself feeling incredibly moved by the thought of how far we've come without forgetting how far we need to go. A few steps later, extremist groups were protesting this display of positivity with hate-fueled vitriol. Groups like these, which only know what they're against and not what they're for, only serve to deepen divisions between us.

In June of 2016, the LGBTQ+ community was attacked in an act of hate-induced violence, when a gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, killing 49. In the days following, hundreds of people attended a vigil organized by the Federation's CRC as sign of solidarity.

The Jewish community knows only too well the pain of being targeted for one's identity. October 27 of this past year was one of the darkest days in our community's history. An anti-Semitic terrorist killed 11 worshipers of the Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha, Dor Hadash, and New Light congregations, simply because they were Jewish. In our close-knit community in Pittsburgh, this was a fear that we never thought would be realized.

Here it was, just over two years later from the Pulse tragedy, and we were organizing a vigil for the victims of violence that took place our own backyard. Both communities were attacked in places where the Jewish and LGBTQ+ community respectively were authentically themselves. These attacks were desecrations of those safe spaces and what emerged from the horror was an inexplicable bond between our two communities.

One of the most incredible things we experienced in the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life building was a complete and total sense of unity not only across the entire Jewish community, but the entire city of Pittsburgh. We were comforted by the assurance from the broader community that

this was not just an attack on the Jewish community; this was an attack on all of us. It should not take a tragedy for us to realize how important it is to come together. In a way, the unity that the city of Pittsburgh experienced after October 27 is mirrored every year at Pride. It is a time for the LGBTQ+ community and allies across the spectrum to come together to affirm the values of love, acceptance, and equality.

While the Equality March is truly a highlight for many members of the Jewish community, we will be supporting from the sidelines this year, as June 9 is also the major Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Though this precludes our community from marching, the values on which we will be reflecting seem to fit perfectly with the values we share during Pride. One of the main tenets of Shavuot is that it is celebrated as the anniversary of the day that the Jewish people were given the

Torah and commandments at Mount Sinai. Our tradition teaches us that all Jewish souls—past and future—were present at the receiving of the Torah and heard the voice of God. No matter their denomination, opinions, or lifestyle, Jews all stood together on the same day as one people.

This sense of togetherness and peoplehood is a central aspect of Shavuot, just as standing together with other communities is a Jewish value. Similarly, Pride is a time for the LGBTQ+ community and allies across the spectrum to come together to affirm the values of love and equality. To march in support with Pride means to stand together as one. On Shavuot, we are reminded of a time when all were equal and all were standing as one harmonious community, focused on what unites, not what divides. As we celebrate Pride not just this month, but every day, let us remember that we are stronger together.

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By Christine Bryan

Since 1991, the humid dog days of Pittsburgh’s summers have harbingered an annual LGBTQ Pride Parade. While many may think that Pittsburgh Pride is a recent star in Pittsburgh’s queer constellation because of the massive attendance and visibility, our pride parades actually have a venerable, albeit somewhat checkered history, varying in attendance but touching many East End neighborhoods, from Downtown to Point Breeze.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

1973 On June 16, Gay Alternatives

Pittsburgh (GAP) chartered a "mod painted" streetcar as part of "Gay Trolley Day." The queer street car traveled from Market Square through Castle Shannon, Dormont, Beechview, and back to downtown. That evening a dance was held at the Unitarian Church.

On June 17, Pittsburgh's first Pride Parade took place, four years before the Stonewall Riots in New York City. About 150 hardy marchers trekked uphill from Market Square in downtown to Flagstaff Hill in Oakland. The day before, Gay Alternatives Pittsburgh (GAP) chartered a "mod painted" streetcar 1974 In 1974, the second lesbian and gay

pride parade was held on June 23, followed by a picnic in South Park.

1975 Organizers truncated the route by

1975. That year, on June 22, an undetermined number of community members and supporters jaunted downhill from the Civic Arena to Point State Park.

1976 The next year, 1976, a militant troupe

wended a serpentine way from the Civic Arena to the Federal Building, where they made demands of the federal government. The group continued to crisscross the Triangle, issuing rights demands at the City-County Building, the Catholic Diocese Building and Point State Park.

1979-1980 In 1979 and 1980, queers hit the

asphalt in more residential settings. On June 24, 1979, 120 participants marched through Shadyside and Bellefield, from Ellsworth Avenue to Flagstaff Hill. On June 22, 1980, marchers again trooped across Shadyside, this time from Morewood and Fifth to Mellon Park on the Point Breeze border.

1980s Pride marches then plunged into a Dark Ages in the 1980s, and no parades occurred until a renaissance trek in May 1991.

1988 - 1990 However, Pride events took

place throughout the 1980s and perhaps the busiest Pride weeks occurred during the years 1988-1990. There were no parades, but many remember Karen Thompson’s visit in 1988 and the gay days at Kennywood Park (1989 and 1990) complete with CRY OUT!’s airplane banner ad announcing lesbian and gay pride to all at Kennywood.

1991-1993 The parades returned in 1991 when almost 500 queers and friends traveled to the Point from the Civic Arena. The next year marked a parade apex: Nearly 1,000 marchers regained the Civic Arena-Point trail!

Unfortunately, rain dampened the success of the 1993 Civic Arena Point march, and attendance was down to 400.

1994 In 1994, attendance fell further when the Pride committee was stymied by the City’s insistence that the march proceed along Smallman Street in the Strip District to avoid the mythical “construction” occurring on Fifth Avenue. Determined marchers followed the route to Market Square, which crossed over a deserted and unobstructed Fifth Avenue.

1995-2000 In 1995, the downward trend was broken when about 700 participated in a parade through Shadyside with some 1,100 festival participants at Mellon Park. From 1996 to 2000 participation in the Shadyside/Mellon Park event edged higher, breaking the 2,000 mark in ‘99 and ‘00

But more important than the number of people who attend was the diversity of our annual community gathering.

1999 Pride festival stage producer Ted Hoover said the following about the 1999 event: “Whatever else I’ll remember from Pride Fest ‘99, the top of the list would be the little corner of Mellon Park that the Asian & Friends people made their own. It was five or six pagoda roofs, one suspended from the next, each covered with a glittering color of the rainbow. It was truly stunning, and I loved the way it combined groovy symbols of both queer and Pacific Rim culture. And with a strap here and some Velcro there, it would make a dress the likes of which Patti O’Fernicher can only dream about.”

2000 The June 17, 2000 Pride Parade and festival continued the tradition of a Shadyside march and a Mellon Park festival and was the final Pride event organized by the Three Rivers Pride Committee, which formed to produce the 1994 events.

2001 Beginning in 2001, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) took over the local LGBT Pride, organizing and moving the event away from Mellon Park. The new Pride Committee’s choice of Flagstaff Hill did not materialize, and it settled for Schenley Meadow. But, it wasn’t the permit snafu that caused a dampening effect. Heavy rains soaked the city for much of the morning and only stopped when the Squirrel Hill parade arrived in Schenley Park. However, the stage line-up of singers, poets, and speakers was one of the best ever

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2002 Undeterred by the misfortunes of

2001, the GLCC Pride committee returned the parade to Shadyside, but chose Ellsworth Avenue over Mellon Park as the site for the festival. Ample participation in the parade pushed the crowd size to an estimated 1,000 people before—once again—a drenching rain soaked the festival.

2003 Pittsburgh marked 30 years of celebrating Pride in 2003 with a parade and street festival in Shadyside. Marchers followed a route through Shadyside which ended at the 5800 block of Ellsworth Avenue. The theme of this year’s parade and festival was “Peace Through Pride.” Leading up to PrideFest were a series of activities including the Unity Ball, an all-ages sweetheart dance aboard the Gateway Clipper, the 2nd annual Mr. Pittsburgh Drag King Pageant, a Pride Run/Walk, and a performance by the gay/lesbian sketch comedy/cabaret trio Unitard.

2004 In 2004, PrideFest took the theme “Stand Up! Stand Proud! Stand Together!”

More than 2,100 people and 50 vendors attended the festival on the North Shore’s Great Lawn, and 600 people and 43 units participating in the parade. Responding to requests to move the event to a more visible location, the Pride Parade started downtown and wound around through the Three Rivers Arts Festival, ending on the North Shore.

a special performance of Varla Jean Merman, under a Big Top, at the City Theatre; Standing Together with Pride, a pageant of diversity benefiting The Seven Project; a parade and festival, as well as a Pride Day at PNC Park, as the Pirates played the Seattle Mariners.

2005 Building off the momentum from 2004’s event, the 2005 Pride Committee chose the theme “Equal Rights — No More. No Less” and reached out to LGBT organizations in Erie, Butler, Wheeling, Johnstown, Altoona, and Morgantown among others, and invited them to join the festivities. The parade, with Grand Marshalls Jim Huggins and Randy Forrester at the helm, snaked through downtown, across the Allegheny River to Riverfront Park on the North Shore. PFLAG Pittsburgh carried the 100-foot Rainbow Flag, and new to the parade was the Doggie Drag Creative Costume Contest, which benefitted the Western PA Humane Society.

Entertainment included The Renaissance City Choirs, Dreams of Hope, Patrick Arena, Proudly Presents Productions, Stacy Lee Lucas, numerous drag kings and queens, and the high-energy band Bootlickers. In addition, a children’s activity area was added for the first time and Pride Night at PNC Park was held the prior week.

2006 “Pride, Not Prejudice” was the theme for 2006’s PrideFest. The Pride Awareness March kicked off downtown and included There was a wide range of activities throughout PA Governor Ed Rendell. Led by the Dykes on Bikes contingent and grand marshall the month including Stand Up and Yell! Bingo, Susan Haugh, the parade once again started held in the parking lot off Ellsworth Avenue; downtown and finished at Riverfront Park on the North Shore. The Steel City Softball League held the honor of carrying the Rainbow Flag in recognition of their 25th anniversary.

Performances included Lenora Nemitz, Renaissance City Choirs, Cindy Shaffer, Kierra Darshell, Lisa Ferraro, Diamond, Jonathan, and Brad Yoder. New this year was the addition of a 2nd stage, which was a Dance Stage, a recommendation by the Youth Liaisons Committee.

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Capping the days’ festivities was Pride Night at PNC Park, with a portion of the ticket sales benefitting the GLCC. There was a pre-game Pride Picnic before the group saw the Pirates play the Minnesota Twins. New this year was the Friends of Pride campaign, which gave individuals the ability to be a sponsor.

2007 The international theme “United for Equality” was chosen as the theme for the 2007 Pride Celebration. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was the first Pittsburgh Mayor to ever grace our stage, and Governor Ed Rendell was on hand for the second year to kick off the Pride Awareness March, led by grand marshal and local businessman Herb Beatty. The Shepherd Wellness Center carried the Rainbow Flag in the march which started downtown and ended in Riverfront Park, where 65 vendors welcomed the crowd.

Headlining the entertainment was Poppy Champlin, an LA-based comedian. Other acts included Eric Himan, Cindy Shaffer, Sasha, Jezebel, The Renaissance City Choirs, Sarah Claire Morton, Tracy Drach, and Dreams of Hope.

Community pre-events included Kick-Start your Pride-Women’s Dance and the first ever Pride in the Street with Emmy award winner Bruce Vilanch, singing sensation Tiffany, DJ Juklian Marsh, and DJ DeMarko.

PRIDE THROUGH THE YEARS 1984

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June 16-22, 2008 with the theme “Live, Love, Liberty.” The week kicked off with a Bowling Extravaganza at Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill and included workshops and lectures throughout the week on topics such as LGBT Foster Care & Adoption and performances of “Take Me Out,” a play set in the locker room of a professional baseball team, which explored themes of homophobia, racism, class, and masculinity in sport.

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Thursday night included SPLASH!, a pool party at the home of Steve Herforth and Peter Karlovich on Mt. Washington. Hundreds participated in Friday night’s Bar Crawl.

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Unity & More in ‘84 Alive with Pride in ‘85 Forward Together 2008 Pride Week was held

Proud, Strong, United Rightfully Proud Stonewall 20 - A Generation of Pride Look to the Future Together in Pride

A Family of Pride Stonewall 25 - A Global Celebration of Lesbian & Gay Pride & Protest 1995

Pride - From Silence to Celebration 1996

Pride Without Borders 1997

Equality Through Visibility 1998

Unity Through Diversity Pride in the Street on Saturday was hosted

by Frank DeCarpo and featured American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, Fredrick Ford, Global Groove Tour, and DJ Escape.

1999

Sunday’s Pride March and Pride Fest featured Frank DeCaro, Reina, The Cliks, comedian Eddie Sarfaty, Jacob Retain, and Mary Lou Wallner. The Beer Garden made its debut, along with the Queer Café.

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Prideful Past, Powerful Future 2000

Take Pride, Take Joy, Take Action

We are your Neighbors Peace Through Pride Stand Up! Stand Proud! Stand Together!

Equal Rights. No More. No Less.

Pride - Not Prejudice United For Equality Live Love Liberty!

Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights We Belong Don't Stop Believing Pride in the Name of Love 2013

I Wanna Marry You 2014

Be Brave 2015

All You Need is Love 2016

Together We Are Stronger 2017

Rise Up 2018

This is Me 2019

We Are One

Embrace Diversity Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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2012 The legendary Melissa Etheridge headlined 2012’s Pride in the Street with a theme of “Pride in the Name of Love” and thousands of Pittsburghers both straight and gay descended on Liberty Avenue. Surprisingly, this was Melissa’s first gay pride event and she showed up loud, proud and ready to rock ‘n roll for an unbelievable 2 ½ hours of music.

Opening the night was local DJ 7UP and Reina. Following the concert, legendary DJ Tracy Young kept the crowd dancing into the wee hours. The Capital Pride Band made their debut at the Pride March, followed by a slew of entertainment at PrideFest including Cazwell and American Idol performer Melissa Doolittle.

2009 Pride Week 2009 was held June 8-14 with the theme “Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights.”

Throughout the week were numerous events including “GLTBQ Civil rights: How you can change government for your rights,” “Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights: An ACLU Forum Issues and Answers on Law, Marriage, Money and Family Matters” Opening at Pride in the Street were hip-hop honeys God-des and She who ably set the stage for Grammy and Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday, who treated the crowd with her belt-out ballads and sky-high serenades.

San Francisco’s internationally renowned DJ Phil B spun the tunes late into the night.

The annual Pride Awareness Walk wound its way through the Boulevard of the Allies to Liberty Avenue, and featured Grand Marshals State Rep Dan Frankel, advocate Wendi Miller, and musician Thea Austin. Organizers said this year’s parade was the largest ever with 25 floats and 50 groups representing LGBT organizations throughout the city, from athletic leagues, to bars, to health organizations, to entertainment, to support groups, and more.

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2010 In 2010, the theme was “We Belong” and Pride in the Street featured Canada’s own Deborah Cox. PrideFest was filled with local dance troupes, drag queens and kings, and local and regional performing acts including Official Hank, Pandora Scooter, and Aaron & Sonji. The event closed with favorite dance pop artist Amber.

2011 In 2011, the theme for Pittsburgh Pride was “Don’t Stop Believing” and Pride kicked off with an Advocacy Rally on the steps of the City-County Building featuring Zach Wahls, Stuart Milk (Harvey Milk’s nephew), and Mary Kay Totty. The headliner at Pride in the Street was the one and only Miss Patti LaBelle and the African American community was introduced to what may have been their first gay pride. Miss Patti wowed the crowd with her legendary rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and yes, her shoes came off!

DJ Eddie Elias kept the crowd on their feet dancing until the end. Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force Executive Director Kathi Boyle was our grand marshal for the Pride March which once again had record participants, and PrideFest entertainment included fast talker George Watsky, Stacy Lane Matthews, Kellie Maize with a huge sing-a-long closing performance

by Journey cover band Frontiers.

2014 In 2014, the theme for Pittsburgh Pride was “Be Brave” which tied in perfectly as we anxiously awaited word from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that marriage equality would finally be legal in Pennsylvania.

On May 20, that dream came true and the community celebrated with a Marriage Equality Celebration on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside complete with a surprise wedding proposal on stage. Several new events were added to the Pride line-up that year including a 5K Stride for Pride, the Race to Equality stationary cycle event, Equality on Ellsworth, which featured Charice who Oprah Winfrey called “the most talented girl in the world,” and two Fabulous Gay Friday events in Market Square designed to promote Pride to the corporate community.

2013 In 2013, “I Wanna Marry You”

was the theme as marriage equality became legal in many states in the U.S. For Pride in the Street, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert and his “glambert” fans made their way to Pittsburgh from 22 states and countries. This was Adam’s only second gay pride appearance ever and his amazing voice could be heard up and down Liberty Avenue.

Opening for Adam was Pittsburgh’s own Sharon Needles, David and Devine, and Ryan Amador and Jo Lampert and DJ Digital Dave kept the crowd dancing all night.

Acting Police Chief Regina McDonald led the Pride March down Liberty Avenue and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, a 178-piece World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Allentown, wowed the crowd.

PrideFest was packed with thousands enjoying such diverse entertainment as Matt Otis, Ryan Amadore, and Ladyboi. Closing the festival was UK’s own Joe McElderry, the winner of 2009’s X Factor, who wowed the crowd with his amazing vocal performance.

Pride in the Street was a huge celebration with disco diva Chaka Khan and MAGIC! performing. Opening acts included Ayah Marar, Via Chambers, and Lazaro Arbos.

Local DJ Strobe kept everyone on their feet until the very end.

2016 In 2016, Pittsburgh Pride came back stronger then ever with the announcement that Kesha would be headling Pride in the Street, in what would be our first sell-out. Opening for Kesha was Mahogany La Piranha and Angel Haze. A new pool party was held at Skybar on the South Side, it was the final year for the Pub Crawl, and the R-52s performed at Ready. Set. Pride! Early Sunday morning, the world woke with the news of the Pulse Nightclub shooting which led to 49 seconds of silence during the Equality March. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch was our first CEO to participate in the March and all PrideFest attendees were able to get a free HIV and STI test at the Mylan Wellness Village. Performers at PrideFest included Jaila Simms, who made history as the first trans person to win a realty show. The weekend after Pride, the Delta Foundation was proud to support the Pittsburgh Ballroom Community's Ball on the Bridge which took place on the Andy Warhol Bridge.

The Pride March and PrideFest smashed all previous records with 95,000 in attendance and hundreds of organizations and corporations marching. Performing at PrideFest was Steve Grand the first openly gay male county musician to attract mainstream attention.

2015 In 2015, Pittsburgh Pride garnered national and international media attention when some members of the community were unhappy with the choice of rapper Iggy Azalea to headline Pride in the Street which eventually led to the decision to withdraw from the event. Nick Jonas saw the media coverage and offered to perform following his earlier performance the same night in New York. Thanks to the generosity of a sponsor, we were able to get Nick and his team to Pittsburgh via private plane. Opening for Nick was local fav Mish, Aaron Peiffer, and drag by Thea Trix. Ready. Set. Pride!, held the prior weekend in Shadyside, got everyone pumped with an electrifying performance by Shadina Bettis and a host of drag performances.

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2017 America's Got Talent singer Brian Justin Crurm lit up Ellsworth Avenue at the Ready. Set. Pride! event in Shadyside which kicked of Pittsburgh Pride 2017. This year saw an expanded Pride to a full weekend of events including MJ Live, a Michael Jackson tribute concert from Las Vegas, American Idol Jennifer Hudson in her first ever Pittsburgh appearance, as well as an expanded two-day PrideFest which included a 300-ft. zip line on Liberty Avenue. PrideFest entertainment included Brandon Parson who penned the "Forty-Nine Times" anthem about Pulse Nightclub and trans female pop group Secret Girls led by Nikki Exotica. The Equality March got its first title sponsor with EQT as the conversation about corporate involvement in the Pride movement continued.

2018 Under the theme "This is Me," Pittsburgh Pride saw the launch of a new two-night concert series called Pride Rocks PGH. Friday night was headlined by Troye Sivan and trans pop singer Kim Petras and Leland. The ABBA Tribute band brought all the “dancing queens” downtown for a huge, free dance party in the street. PrideFest had a diverse array of entertainers including Shemuwel, JLINE, and RV Mendoza. DJ Barry Harris led the Pride Radio Dance Party up until the rainstorm came near the end of the day.

Thank you to Jeff Freedman, Planet Q, Pittsburgh’s OUT, and the GLCC for their contribution to this article.

LOVE IS THE ANSWER, AND YOU KNOW THAT FOR SURE; LOVE IS A FLOWER, YOU’VE GOT TO LET IT GROW. John Lennon

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“In the past, I had trouble trusting doctors. But look where we are now.”

As a transgender woman, Emma needed a lot of specialized care, and many doctors didn’t understand her needs. At AHN she found doctors who work with her as part of the team. Together, they review her treatment options, from hormone therapy to bariatric surgery. Learn more about how AHN supports transgender patients at AHN.org/TransgenderHealthCare.

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Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

“It’s hard to understand what being a trans person is like unless you’ve gone through it.”

Paula always knew she was different, but she didn’t know what to do about that.

When she first came out, there were few doctors who would see her. But at AHN, her doctors are honest and respectful. They work with her to adjust her hormones and keep her healthy. Learn more about how AHN supports transgender patients at AHN.org/TransgenderHealthCare.

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GET READY FOR RINA!

by Christine Bryan

In today’s social media age where an artist’s every move is immediately labelled “iconic,” talking about how a new act is the future of pop music could seem disingenuous. In the case of Rina Sawayama, however it’s actually the truth. Not only has she been labeled that by publications like Interview, Dazed, Noisey and ELLE, her 2017 debut ‘RINA’ saw her land on a heap of “Best Of…” lists, including those by The Guardian, The Needle Drop and Pitchfork.

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PGH

The first time you lay eyes on Rina, you are instantly drawn to her strong and confident fashion sense, her beauty and talent. All of these combined have led to Rina gracing covers of Clash, Sunday Times Style, PETRIe, and Japanese fashion publication, Free Magazine.

Listen to Rina Sawayama’s music and you’ll feel as though you’re in the throwback music video of your dreams, only edgier and probably more original. That isn’t a slight to the capabilities of your own imagination, it’s just that Rina Sawayama is one of the most exciting artists in the music industry right now, whose innovative brand of nostalgic pop still manages to feel modern despite the clear influences of industry icons like Britney Spears and her bubblegum pop cohort.

Take 2018’s single “Cherry,” for instance. It sounds like a blend of Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey at the peak of their careers.

Lyrically, it subverts the norm of pop artists predominantly singing about love and lust through a heterosexual lens. And that’s why Rina has quickly become an important figure in the LGBTQ community, unapologetically embracing her queer identity with empowering ferocity.

Her second single “Flicker” is an empowering song that allows her fans to celebrate themselves for who they are. As Rina explains.

“Whether it's a name that no one can say, or the frustration of being misgendered, or quite simply being misunderstood for who you truly are—this is a song for you.”

Born in Japan, Rina emigrated from there with her family to the UK when she was five years old. Her love of singing, dance and drama while at secondary school is where she discovered her voice, even taking the lead tenor in a gospel choir. Although her first love was singing, Rina also wanted to continue her education and went on to study at Cambridge University. Rina explains what her time was like there. “First of all, they (Cambridge) make you feel like there are all sorts of people that look like you. I went to an open visit day for like ethnic people and thought it was great but then you turn up and it is only white people.” There was also the problem of the other students too. “I didn't realize how cliquey it would be.”

Despite the odds, Rina completed her degree but the bullying and the ostracizing she experienced left her severely depressed. She spent years “finding herself” and while that experience was difficult, it was also the catalyst that helped create the artist that Rina has now become. She is proud to describe herself as pansexual and says “I just think the reason why I wasn’t so comfortable with my sexuality was because there was no one on TV or anywhere that I could point out and go look…this is the person I was talking about.”

The outpouring of love and support she received when she came out as pansexual via her single “Cherry,” left Rina no option but to reciprocate that same love and support back to her fans. Rina took her show on the road and in the past year has gone from playing 150 seat venues to selling out London’s iconic “Heaven.” She performed with Charli XCX at her POP2 show in London and was the supporting act for Years & Years at the O2 Arena. She has only toured the U.S. twice.

“It's crazy, I feel so lucky I can't put it into words really. It gives me purpose because it's clearly working and for the longest time it felt like no one cared.” Rina says, blushes of embarrassment peeking through on her cheeks. The amalgamation of these experiences makes up the foundations for Rina’s unique sound that has set her apart from her peers since day one.

A model and musician whose catchy pop anthems examine millennial relationships with social media and technology, Rina uses her Instagram page to speak out about the lack of Asian representation in fashion and music, and to open up a dialogue about the pressures of social media with her followers.

“Social media creates a really skewed measure of aspiration that you feel like you have to reach every time you log on to Instagram,” she said. “I want to make people feel less alone.”

Rina Sawayama will perform at Pride Rocks PGH on Saturday, June 8. Tickets are available at PittsburghPride.org/tickets Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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LGBTQIA+ AT HOME IN THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

by Yvonne Hudson

Photos by G. Michael Beigay As the special General Conference of the United Methodist Church was held in St. Louis in February, many waited for a definite decision about the denomination’s governing policies about the ordination of LGBT individuals as well as same-sex unions in UM Churches. A narrow margin vote reinforcing aspects of what would be considered discrimination around sexual identity in other settings was concerning, but not the end of the story. For many Methodists it as the spark for more advocacy, action, and open resistance around the 51-year-old branch of the two-century-old Methodist movement.

This winter, many UMC congregations were perhaps confused or disappointed. However, the vote did not change many churches in any way overnight. Many United Methodists who already practice welcoming and participation by LGBTQIA+ members and visitors are recharged to enhance not only welcoming by full inclusion for all despite the official policy of the denomination.

In the Pittsburgh area, for example, two congregations are leading the example of inclusion as the city’s only members of the national Reconciling Ministries Network.

In Shadyside, First United Methodist Church has been a leader in inclusion and as the first regional member of the RMN. In addition, the church has been connect to critical HIV and AIDS related support via hosting of Shepherd Wellness Community events.

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Across town in Allegheny West, Calvary United Methodist Church become the first new RMN member nationally in 2019, joining its historically sister church as a role model for congregations finding their way toward appropriate welcoming and inclusion for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The two churches happen to be celebrating a joint 125 anniversary this year, so their journey as Methodists takes on new significance given the confusion over the UMC’s identity.

Tracy Merrick leads the Western Pennsylvania Reconciling Ministries group of any UMC congregations that declare all individuals are indeed welcome and should be included.

He explains, “The expectation is that affirming churches will be advocates for the equality of LGBTQIA+ people in the world around them and will fully include them in the life of the church.

In affirming settings, LGBTQIA+ and straight people will have equal opportunities - with no exceptions!”

He admits there is much confusion as indeed no decisions in the winter UMC special conference are in any way final. Indeed, a late April UMC convening examined the “constitutionality” of the February vote which, by a narrow margin, maintained both the ordination and wedding policies. As the structure of the UMC is mirrored about the U.S. government, procedures follow a political style, hence the “constitution”--The Book of Discipline which states: "The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching" (para 161G).

Merrick says, “The presence of this sentence in the United Methodist Book of Discipline makes it impossible for The United Methodist Church to say that it truly affirms LGBTQIA+ people.”

So Merrick and other Methodists who wish to see this language removed consistently explore the words of the other book on which the denomination’s social justice and faith tenets are based, the Bible. Claiming the Promise, featured in the RNM website, is a recommended study and resource tool for both individuals and churches seeking answers to the questions some say the Bible raises about full inclusion.

Merrick stresses that the experience of LGBT visitors and members varies from church to church. For travelers and residents of a particular region, he recommends those seeking a welcoming and affirming UMC setting use the directory on the national RMN. “Congregations which are affirming accept LGBTQIA+ and straight people when they come to a community of faith and value their gifts and graces. It means that LGBTQIA+ and straight folks are fully included in the life of a congregation,” he says. “LGBTQIA+ and straight people are provided equal opportunities to use their gifts within the church for the common good.”

In many regional churches that are affirming settings, LGBTQIA+ and straight people participate in broad aspects of worship and leadership in roles including music directors, singers, communion servers, and volunteers in administrative roles.

Merrick, who works closely with regional UMC clergy and laity sorting the denominations official policies from congregational practice. His group of clergy and laity--which includes some LGBT congregants--is now active on ways to empower Methodists for reacting and resisting.

“Churches which affirm LGBTQIA+ people love them and embrace them, just as they love and embrace straight members of the community of faith,” Merrick says. He considers affirming settings as ones that provide an environment where both LGBTQIA+ and straight folks should feel comfortable being open and authentic about their own families and roles in their congregations.

“They can sit together, hold hands, serve together, talk openly about their life together, have their children baptized,” Merrick says, confirming that those attending RMN member churches.

“The expectation is that affirming churches will be advocates for the equality of LGBTQIA+ people in the world around them and will fully include them in the life of the church.”

Ordination in the UMC does remain a sticking point as some LGBT pastors who have stepped out or been outed have suffered varied consequences. That doesn’t mean that non-straight cleary will not be heard from some UMC pulpits in churches committed to full inclusion.

Merrick contends what many in committed affirming settings believe that “LGBTQIA+ and straight people will have equal opportunities - with no exceptions. It is not enough to simply welcome LGBTQIA+ people to worship services! The expectation is that LGBTQIA+ people will be affirmed and fully integrated as equal participants in the life of the church. Thankfully, some United Methodist congregations are very affirming, welcoming, and safe communities of faith for LGBTQIA+ and straight people!”

On March 22, members and clergy of many Pittsburgh area congregations gathered for a special service at Calvary UMC and streamed on the Calvary Facebook page. There were personal stories from LGBTQIA+ Methodists from throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area indeed affirmed that the journey may not be easy but that faith directs on many pathways. Joint choirs and speakers from more than a half dozen UMC churches witnessed to the power of faith, resilience, and resistance.

Merrick confirms what participating and long-term Methodists know--there is much discussion, prayer and strategy informing the path for UMC congregations. There are indeed too many options to details on these pages, but there are many resources for the curious, the confused, and those who simply want to know what churches will be a good fit for visiting around travel, the holidays, or at any time. In addition, questions directed via online messages, email or phone will be readily answered.

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MY ANONYMOUS TRANSITION My name, as well as many others have been removed to protect the innocent. However I can say that my name means Butterfly Grace. I started at my job on February 12, 1996. I've been there 23 years and have great rapport with many colleagues. During that time one thing I've seen more than anything has been transition. I'm in IT so change is built in. From mainframes and vax to servers, from servers to virtual servers, from virtual servers to cloud. All while moving from local IT, to central IT... Follow the Sun.. Global IT... etc. These are just two small infrastructure based examples of changes that all IT folks will have familiarity with. I didn't mention the people that join in and jump around in different careers. It's genuinely hard to keep track of who is where doing what. Bottom line, if you're in IT then transitioning isn't a problem…or is it?

My name is decidedly, intentionally, female but, it wasn't always.

I am transgender.

When I was born I was assigned male gender and I lived 99% of my life with a male name and of the male gender. Most of that time I knew that part of the life I was living didn't quite match up with who I am. Where I was raised there were no transgender people. Gays to be sure, but I typically don't find guys attractive so I knew that wasn't me. I just didn't seem to completely fit with myself or with any group. I dealt with it as best I could. Though the real me did show through sometimes.

In school I played flute, where I was first-string, first-seat for a while. I dressed as a girl for Halloween for three different years.

One year I even enlisted the help of a female friend who was really into the makeup/hair/nail/beauty thing (ok yeah, I really liked her too). So that year I looked gooood.

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I was already working at my job for quite a while when I heard some people talking about “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” I was intrigued so I rented it. It was my first exposure to the concept of the "transsexual." To be honest, I hate the movie. Guys in lingerie acting solicitous, perverted, and lewd. So not me! Don't get me wrong, I like sex as much any other girl, but compared to that movie, I'm a prude. This movie had a real negative impact on me and I think actually discouraged me from exploring transsexuality. (I still hadn't heard the term transgender yet.)

It wasn’t until around 2014, when reading an article in a magazine (I think “Readers Digest?”) about a transgender woman. That’s when I realized who I really was. Every point this woman spoke of I had experienced except for the points surrounding transitioning. At this point I was hetero married for nine years with a child. I didn’t see that as an option for me.

Fast forward to 2016. After several years of a really overly stressful and nerve wracking marriage, I began to feel really, really, alone in the world and I looked for ways to comfort myself. I finally hit upon nail polish. I don't know why, but it made me feel good. I began painting my toenails on a regular basis. My wife never noticed (to be honest she barely looked at me ever). In September 2017 she finally left for Texas. So there I was, just me and my child. I began to move into a nesting mode of sorts. I found for a while that I didn't like jeans anymore and needed something more comfortable. I only owned two pairs of sweatpants and they were both old and wearing out. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find sweatpants I liked at the store. I happened upon a pair of tights and they were perfect! However, they brought forth all the suppressed feelings of femininity so, I bought three more pairs. Voila une femme! I began expanding my wardrobe and allowing myself to be female in the confines of my own room.

My wife came back to spend time with the family from Thanksgiving to Christmas. During that time, we found out my child had a new friend.

I also began getting more and more involved with the LGBT+ scene. I volunteered to help my company's LGBT+ Employee Resource Group as they prepared for Pittsburgh Pride.

“Cool,” I thought.

It wasn’t very long after that when I met someone. A transwoman with similar interests to my own. We attended some drag shows and eventually we'd been together to places frequently enough, that we became kind of known in some small circles. So I wasn't surprised when I received a request from a local LGBT+ blog to participate in a project about my experience that would become part of a collection. I thought what a great way to help inspire others without singling myself out. I filled out the form and submitted it.

Other than being asked for a photo, I didn't think about it again. Until I awoke on Saturday morning, fired up Facebook to see what everybody was up to last week, and saw my photo staring back at me.

Apparently, the blogger had shared my experience and photo onto four western PA Lesbian and LGBT+ groups. And it was two days before I even knew about it. I began hyperventilating because not all of my family knew yet. Some members of my family have lesbian friends who only knew my old self, and I didn't want them finding out from the internet. It just seemed wrong. So in something of a panic I began calling my siblings starting with my oldest, very conservative, brother.

Who is Turkish.

And I'm like "Very cool."

And is transgender.

And I'm like "Really cool... wait what?? So you're cool with the whole transgender thing?"

And from then on the femme was out of the bedroom. But not out of the house.

After getting through the holidays and my birthday, I decided it was time to come out.

I remember seeing a flyer and I reached out to our LGBT+ group global leadership at my company who put me in contact with the leader of the Pittsburgh chapter.

At the time, I had no clear goal and only knew that I wanted community, and I wanted to contribute to that community in a positive way. So, I met with the leader of the Pittsburgh chapter and even though she was a very warm and welcoming person, I have a very shy side so I didn't really allow for the fullness of my self to show through. In other words I talked, somewhat uncomfortably, about being LGBT+, but didn't mention transitioning.

On February 10th, I came out to close friends on Facebook.

Four days later I came out to everyone on Facebook. The reaction was very small. I did it via message so it didn’t get a lot of notice. If I could go back and do it again, I think I would use a bright flashy meme. That way everybody would notice!

Once all the calls were completed I realized I was out everywhere except work. With Pride coming up I thought it would be great to be 100% out so I had my goal! I had already spoken with the leader of our LGBT+ group about my desire to be at work wearing nail polish. She accepted that challenge and got me acquainted with the company's transgender policy.

The irony of the timing of the blog post is that I had already scheduled a meeting with HR and my manager to discuss my Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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coming out. I just upped my original timeline a little in order to be 100% out before Pride. Our company’s guideline are based heavily upon the Out and Equal Transitioning in the workplace guideline which can be found at OutandEqual.org/transitionguidelines.

With the company guideline, the help of HR, my manager, and support from the LGBT+ group leader, the experience was mostly wonderful. They helped keep me on top of things and kept me on track for the target date, and handled all the little details well. The policy itself is pretty thorough and considerate to both the transitioning employee as well as the company. I did notice that my manager seemed no longer be comfortable sitting beside me in the meeting rooms and, if seated beside me would actually move his chair to the end of the table. This continues today. I’ve confronted him about it. He denies it, but…

The plan involved first my making the announcement to a small group of folks. My manager originally had planned that it would be announced at the end of a workshop we were having but, there were too many people I didn't know and it was in an open area where anyone could walk through. I was not comfortable with that so we postponed it until the next day and had a smaller, impromptu meeting with my old team and my current team. At nearly the same time an e-mailed announcement went out to the Pittsburgh site. For the next day and a half I had a hard time keeping up with the congratulations and well-wishes.

Some from people I didn't know. Don't get me wrong, it's not all easy and there are some folks that now pretend I'm invisible, and a few that called me by the old name for a while. The really bothersome part was after the first two days I noticed the increase in foot traffic walking past my cube. That may sound paranoid because there are always people walking around in just about any office setting. But this was different. People were coming past just to get a look. Some of them were people that would’ve had no dealings with my group. I swear there were one

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or two who weren’t even from the same building. This lasted about 2 to 3 weeks during which time I did my best to ignore it but I couldn’t help but feel like I was some spectacle in a zoo. By the third week the parade began to ebb and I was able to resume a more normal work environment. Well, normal with a couple new exceptions.

There were a few folks who still called me by my deadname but they were all quick to correct themselves so that was an appreciated plus. There are some folks that now pretend I'm invisible, even today. There’s one in particular who mostly pretends I’m invisible except for when there’s really bad news.

There used to be people who would stop by my cube to chat from time to time. That ended almost immediately. With the exception of three women who I’ve been friends with since way back when I first started this job, the people that stop by my cube to chat are mostly bosses.

There a few hiccups, like changing e-mail, my badge, my profile name, the profile name on the company web, etc. Most of that went smoothly except I haven’t changed my name legally so payroll, benefits, and HR (in some places) still use my deadname. The frustrating part is when automated systems send me e-mails deadnaming me. It’s totally not necessary and it’s a battle that has worn me down. It’s upsetting to the point of desiring to make the name change legal. Though the real push for that came from a doctor who didn’t know me even though I was his patient.

It's mostly been positive experience. It's a wonderful feeling being here at my desk typing this up… free to be the woman I always was inside. In nail polish? ABSOLUTELY! I'm blessed to be at a company that has a policy that supported me. I know there are so many out there that are not so lucky. I intend to pay it forward if at all possible. I truly hope that this article will help to give courage to others that want to come out.

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SHUT UP!

WALK THE MOON TO MAKE THEIR PRIDE DEBUT IN PITTSBURGH

by Christine Bryan

Known for their energetic performances, vibrant face paint stage tradition to kaleidoscopic music videos, Walk the Moon is made up of Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Eli Maiman, and Sean Waugaman, was formed in 2006 at Kenyon College in Cincinnati.

The band’s first release “Anna Sun,” which was named for a professor, quickly gained airplay and was named the song of the summer in a 2011 Esquire article "30 Summer Songs Every Man Should Listen To." Additionally, the single was also named song of the summer by MTV and Seventeen, as well as one of the best songs of the year by Amazon.

In June 2012, the band released their first major label studio album, Walk the Moon. It included a re-recorded version of "Anna Sun," which peaked at No. 20, giving Walk the Moon their first top twenty hit on the charts.

In December 2014, the band released their second major-label studio album, Talking Is Hard, which included the song "Shut Up and Dance." The song catapulted the band to stardom when the single became a multi-platinum global smash that peaked at No. 1 on the Alternative, Hot AC, AC charts, No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and went to No. 2 on Top 40 radio. The track also broke the record for consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart at the time.

"Shut Up and Dance" racked up over six million downloads and 850 million streams in the process leading to a slew of honors including winning two Billboard Music Awards, a nomination for an MTV Music Video Award for Best Rock Video, American Music Award nominations for Favorite Pop/Rock Duo Or Group, New Artist of the Year, and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist. They were also nominated for an iHeart Radio Music Award for Best Duo/ Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Alternative Rock Song of the Year.

The band was riding high on the biggest hit of its career, and rehearsing for what was slated to be its biggest, most elaborate headlining tour to-date, when singer Nick Petricca's father fell ill in March 2016 and the tour was halted.

Following his father's death, Petricca found himself exploring his spirituality and his sexuality in a way that he'd never before confronted.

“To say the band went through kind of a dark, tense time puts it mildly. Like any family or any marriage, we had some growing pains,” said Petricca. In addition to difficult life circumstances involving family, the band just had some issues to work out.

“There was a time when we weren’t sure we were coming back. I think it’s because we dug deeper and we’ve been more vulnerable here than we have been on any other record. We made it through to the other side."

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Being on the road together for basically five years straight from the beginning of the first record through making the second record and the whole journey we didn't really have a moment to really sit and look at where we were on a personal level with ourselves and with each other. “All I Want,” in particular, being that sort of jumping off point, both lyrically and thematically, it's really a song about how do I get happy. And why am I not; why am I not finding happiness in all of these external things? Trying to be vegan, trying to be straight, trying to buy cool stuff, trying to identify with this or that thing outside of myself, and realizing that external validation doesn't have a whole lot of value.

In February 2016, the band released a live album called You Are Not Alone (Live from the Greek). The album featured songs recorded from their sold-out Los Angeles show at The Greek Theater during the second leg of their Talking Is Hard Tour.

“I think what we're giving people at our shows is a feeling of not being alone, which is why we named our live record You Are Not Alone. It gives them this sense of community and people who are maybe weirdos and not the most popular kids a place to connect with other weirdos like us and have that sense of community and belonging. That's always been our goal with the live shows, creating this safe space where people can let go and be themselves and feel good.”

In August 2017, Petricca performed solo at LoveLoud fest, a concert designed to ignite the relevant and vital conversation of what it means to unconditionally love, understand, accept, and support LGBTQ youth in our communities. The festival is founded

by Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons.

In the Fall of 2017, the group released the pop radio hit "One Foot" from their third album What If Nothing, which made its debut at #6 on the U.S. iTunes charts. The album included hits "Headphones" and "Surrender.”

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On this album, the band's music reflected a combination of each of the members' personal development since Talking Is Hard. Petricca said the new album was “really raw lyrically" and centered around "looking into the unknown and realizing that it could all go to shit or it could be the best thing in your life."

In January 2019, the band released their new single, "Timebomb" and since then they have joined Muse as their opening act during their Simulation Theory North American Tour.

“There are feelings that we have always promoted and have always wanted at our shows, which is unity and not being alone. I think we are allowing ourselves to ask questions and be comfortable without them having an obvious answer. I want people to take comfort in knowing that it's okay to not know what's going to happen. It's okay to be confused or angry or scared and that other people feel that way too. You're not alone in any of it. And that's what I get from our music and I hope other people take comfort from that as well.”

This Spring found the band on The Tonight Show’s Cover Room segment with a melancholic version of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” They then rocked the stage with an energetic performance of “Timebomb” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Walk The Moon has always had a distinct sonic identity in the indie scene — one of youthful optimism and genuine excitement.

“A term that comes up a lot for us is empowerment and it gives us a lot of joy when we can tell that our listeners, the people at our shows, feel empowered. And the one thing that we've received, that I've received listening to some other music is that when I feel well connected to a piece of music, it's not when they are telling me "you are powerful" but it's more when they're saying I am vulnerable.

There's a phrase that I love—vulnerability is absolute power. I think realizing whether it was conscious or unconscious in the process of writing the most powerful thing we could do is just be vulnerable with our experience of life.”

Walk the Moon will perform at Pride Rocks PGH on Friday, June 7. Tickets are available at PittsburghPride.org/tickets

9.

Walk The Moon named themselves after the song “Walking on the Moon”

by The Police. Lead vocalist Nicholas Petricca said that they used The Police to name themselves because of their mystery and playfulness.

14.

They Wrote Songs in a Kentucky Masonic Lodge. Walk The Moon

They Usually Wear Face Paint at Shows.

The band revealed that they wear face paint at most shows to emphasize the Peter Pan-esque vibe and playful aspect of their music. It became a tradition for them when fans began showing up wearing face paint.

12.

“Shut Up and Dance” Has a Special Meaning.

Their hit song “Shut Up and Dance” is important for them because it represents a turning point.

The single was, for them, a symbol of how far they’ve come.

FIFTEEN THINGS

spent six weeks in an old Kentucky Masonic Lodge that was being turned into a commune for artists.

While they were there they wrote several songs that made it onto their album.

13.

11.

They View “Shut Up and Dance” as a Dork Rock Anthem. Writing

the single was sort of like their shout out to people like them. “We kind of wanted to write a dork rock anthem for all of those poor souls like us.”

10.

“Anna Sun” Was Written About a Professor. Petricca and

singer/songwriter Nick Lerangis wrote Walk The Moon’s first hit “Anna Sun” toward the end of Petricca’s career at Kenyon College. The song is actually named after their professor and is supposed to symbolize the idea of youth.

They Are Influenced From Artists of Different Eras. Petricca has said

that artists from different decades inspire them and their sound.

8.

They Are Not Biased by Genres. Walk The Moon

has covered all sorts of different genres, including Disney music, Fleet Foxes, and Jimi Hendrix. They have also covered Talking Heads, Prince, David Bowie, and The Killers.

7.

Their Goal Is to Make you Dance. Walk The

Moon’s ultimate goal is to make their audience dance to their music.

They especially focus on the idea of “preserving the inner child, no matter how old you are.”

6.

They Are Really Involved With Their Music. Petricca has his

name on the writing credits for every song in TALKING IS HARD. Petricca said that it is extremely important for he and his band members to be able to connect with what they sing about.

5.

They Have Had the Same Lineup Since 2010. Though Walk The

Moon have gone through several changes – most notably coming to fame – the lineup of the original band in 2010 hasn’t changed at all.

4.

They Will Try Anything.

Especially when it concerns the type of music they play, Walk The Moon are open-minded to just about anything and they are not afraid to experiment with tender, emotional music and heavy rock in the same album.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW

They Are Named After a Song by The Police.

ABOUT WALK THE MOON

15.

3.

Half of the Band Is Left-Handed. Though

only 10 percent of people worldwide are left-handed, half of Walk The Moon are lefties!

2.

They Support LGBTQ Rights. In 2014, Walk The Moon donated all profits from their merchandise sales to an LGBTQ organization in response to the Westboro Baptist Church protesting one of their concerts.

1.

They Want to Send a Message. Many of Walk The Moon’s songs are about “empowerment and just celebrating people’s differences, ”The best lyrics are when people just dance and forget about taking sides.”

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ICON. LEGEND. The distinctive, sultry vocals of seven-time Grammy Award®-winning recording artist Toni Braxton, singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist, have been celebrated internationally ever since she was first introduced to the world by Babyface and L.A. Reid in 1992. With such timeless hits such as “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” “Another Sad Love Song,” “Breathe Again,” “Seven Whole Days,” “Un-Break My Heart,” and “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” few artists ever ascend to the rarefied heights of “legend,” “icon,” “songstress,” and “diva.”

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Ever since her career began, Toni has always had a huge LGBTQ following. “I have a very androgynous look,” she says when asked about her appeal. “Don’t get me wrong, I think of myself as an attractive woman, but it’s in a boyish way. However, I’m very comfortable with it and that makes it very easy to emulate Toni Braxton on both sides. Over the years I think that might be one of the reasons my gay and lesbian fans have connected with me. I am who I am. I’m an androgynous artist and I’m comfortable in my own skin.”

All of which brings to mind one more word that’s in keeping with Braxton’s career then and now: game-changer. And never more so than with Def Jam’s release last March of the artist’s ninth studio album, Sex & Cigarettes. It’s Braxton’s first studio album since Love, Marriage & Divorce, her 2014 Grammywinning collaboration with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and her first solo album in nearly a decade.

“I never imagined that 25 years later I’d have done all the things I’ve accomplished,” says Braxton. “But I knew I would be singing. For whatever reason, music has always given me the strength to get up—even when I didn’t want to.” Indeed, it’s a franker, creatively adventurous and no-holds-barred Braxton that greets listeners on Sex & Cigarettes, especially on its provocative title track.

“I heard the track and loved the title, which makes you wonder,” notes Braxton, who co-wrote the aching ballad. “It’s basically a song about the movement of infidelity, the slow walk of it and how your heart feels when you have to admit this is happening.”

Of the mid-tempo song “Long as I Live,” which reached the top 10 on Billboard’s R&B Songs chart, Braxton says, “I’m stuck on love and the message of ‘as long as I live, I’ll never get over you getting over me.’"

The album earned Braxton three Grammy Award® nominations: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for the single "Long as I Live."

Braxton’s 'As Long As I Live' tour hit the road in January in Columbia, South Carolina, and finished March 3 in Los Angeles.

The tight, eight-track Sex & Cigarettes also includes the noteworthy “FOH,” text shorthand for “get the f#@k outta here,” and the emotional slow gem “My Heart.” The latter pairs Braxton with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat, who also co-wrote the song with Braxton and Babyface. A nod to classic ‘90s Braxton, the song is also available in Spanish.

Of working with Caillat for the first time, Braxton compares their vocal pairing to peanut butter and jelly. “My voice is thick and rich like peanut butter,” she explains, “while Colbie’s is light and sweet like jelly. The timber in her top range is so angelic.”

Braxton’s own mesmerizing voice remains the one constant throughout Sex & Cigarettes—the same sultry and smoky vocals that immediately turned heads in 1992. That’s when listeners first became aware of the newcomer who appeared out of nowhere on the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy box office smash Boomerang. Helmed by songwriter/producers and LaFace Records founders Babyface and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, the soundtrack featured Braxton on two songs: “Give You My Heart,” a duet with Babyface, and “Love Shoulda Brought You Home.”

That set the stage for Braxton’s 1993 breakthrough with her self-titled debut album that’s now 8x platinum. The project also garnered the singer the first three of her seven Grammy Awards, including best new artist. Braxton, who began singing professionally in the ‘80s with her three sisters as The Braxtons, has since banked an enviable number of career-defining moments. Between 1996 and 2010, she released six more solo albums (Secrets, The Heat, Snowflakes, More Than a Woman, Libra, and Pulse) and charted a string of hits (including “You Mean the World to Me,” “You’re Makin’ Me High,” and “I Love Me Some Him”/ “I Don’t Want To”) before teaming with Babyface 2014 for the critically acclaimed duets album that won her a seventh Grammy for Best R&B Album.

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Along the way, Braxton reinvented her game as she effortlessly segued into a theatrical acting career in 1998 as Belle in Beauty and the Beast. That barrier-breaking portrayal—the first black woman to play a leading role in a Disney Broadway production— led to a stint in a second Disney Broadway musical, Aida, and later a special guest star engagement with another Broadway musical, After Midnight.

Since then, Braxton has starred in three TV films for Lifetime including Twist of Faith, Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (adapted from her same-titled best-selling memoir) and, most recently, Faith Under Fire: the Antoinette Tuff Story. Her fourth movie Every Day Is Christmas, which premieres November 24.

In between, she and her three sisters have become popular reality tv stars via WE TV’s flagship series Braxton Family Values, now in its sixth season.

After collapsing backstage at a 2008 performance in Las Vegas, doctors diagnosed her with lupus—a chronic autoimmune disease-causing widespread inflammation and joint pain amongst other unpleasant symptoms. This past September, Toni joined forces with Uncle Bud's, the trusted collection of natural, hempinfused products. The hemp-healthy brand specializes in skin care, personal care and pain relief products, making them an essential part of her everyday routine.

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ABOUT TONI BRAXTON 66

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While Braxton was raised in a strict, religious household with a father who was a clergyman, she is proud of raising her two sons Denim and Diezel knowing that being different is okay. “There’s one little kid in one of my son’s classes and my son said, 'Mommy, he acts like a girl. Will I act like a girl?' I’m like, 'It’s not that he acts like a girl; he acts like himself. It’s not something you can become.

You’re born a way, and it’s OK because people are born different ways.'”

“I teach them that there’s nothing wrong with that. Kids are different nowadays. They aren’t close-minded like my parents’ generation was or how I was initially taught to be.”

She devotes time as a spokesperson for Lupus L.A. and Austism Speaks, the latter on behalf of Diezel who is living with autism.

Over the course of her career, Toni has sold over 67 million records, including 41 million albums worldwide, won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, and seven American Music Awards, among numerous other accolades. After all these years, she’s still in love with music and the possibilities it affords. “There have been moments when I felt defeated; felt I let myself down,” she says. “Even if I fail, music gives me enough strength to try something different. I’ve come full circle—yet there are still so many things to do.”

Toni Braxton will perform at Pride Rocks PGH on Saturday, June 8. Tickets are available at PittsburghPride.org/tickets

Toni is the oldest of six siblings. She has one younger brother named Michael and four younger sisters, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar.

Toni was famously discovered by a record producer at a Maryland service station while she was pumping gas.

Her first hit song was “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” which was originally written for Anita Baker.

4 Un-Break My Heart" is Toni’s

5

biggest hit of her career, spending eleven consecutive weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 and also topping the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart for eleven weeks and the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for four weeks. The song is certified Platinum.

Toni became the first black woman to star in a Disney musical on Broadway when she portrayed the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

T:7.75”

©2019 LYFT, INC . CPUC IC NO . TCP0032513-P

Fit for kings, queens, and everyone between.

Lyft supports safe spaces, and all the humans who inhabit them.

– 2019 The Pittsburgh Pride Magazine – halfpage ad

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Her TV career includes Braxton Family Values and Toni serves as executive producer for its d by: Dan Lau at dlau-mbp143 spin-off “Tamar & Vince,” starring her younger sister.

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Toni was in the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars and was eliminated in the 5fifth round. Brooke Burke and Derek Hough went on to win.

Toni performed in the 4-9-2019 1:27 PM Despite being a celebrity for Super Bowl XXXIV halftime 6.75” x 2.625” many years now, Toni likes show with Enrique Iglesias release date: 75” x 3.625” 04/10/2019 to keep it simple. She shops and Christina Aguilera.

8.25” x 4.125” at Ross Dress for Less

11 Last June, Toni was in

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because they have good deals, She is a devoted mom to twoimages: NY Pride – Y.psd (CMYK; 541 ppi; 55 .38%) according to her. sons, Denim and Diezel, and is o (Regular, Bold) a spokeswoman for Lupus L.A. Notes: and Autism Speaks, in the wake None : of her 2010 lupus diagnosis and Magenta, Yellow, Black her youngest son’s autism.

That’s

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Pittsburgh filming her Lifetime movie Faith Under Fire which aired in January. While she was here, Toni attended Jennifer Hudson’s approvals: 2017 Pittsburgh Pride concert!

CD: Tim Roan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AD: Nils Westgardh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

When Rihanna celebrated her 30th birthday D: None . . . . in . . . .February, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . among her CW:gifts Clairewas Zahm .a . surprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30-minute performance by Lead: Kristin Sheff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Toni, oneGTM of her favorite artists.

PD: Dan Lau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Her ninthProduction: studio album None . . . .Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . & Cigarettes was released Stakeholder: Molly Kempon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

March 23, 2018.

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Š2017 Aetna Š2019 AetnaInc. Inc. 2017XXX 2017289

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PRIDEFEST Saturday, June 8 | Noon – 6 PM Sunday, June 9 | 1 – 7 PM

HIGHLIGHTS PrideFest is a two-day free festival that showcases a diverse range of local and regional entertainment and includes 150+ vendors from LGBTQ organizations to faith-based to local businesses and corporate partners in an atmosphere that brings together our allies and celebrates our community.

Check Your Blind Spots Bus

Mylan Wellness Village

Play the Doctor Match Game

Stop by the Check Your Blind Spots tour bus and learn about about unconscious bias, or blind spots, and explore ways to mitigate this bias in your everyday life. Participate in a series of activities which expose you to the nuances of unconscious bias and then pledge your commitment to addressing personal biases and cultivate inclusive behaviors.

In the Mylan Wellness Village, learn about all the resources available to you that that are working to help make Pittsburgh's LGBTQ communtiy healthier. Get an HIV or STI test, visit the Gilead booth and learn about PrEP, stop by the University of Pittsburgh Smile with Pride booth and pick up some free oral hygiene samples, and much more!

Stop by the HIghmark Blue Cross Blue Shield area and check out their take on the popular game show! Contestents will be chosen and able ask questions to doctors as they look to find the ideal doctor match!

Kids Activity Area

UPMC Health Plan Van

84 Lumber Tiny House

Power Your Future Exhibit

Fun for all ages, the Kids Activity Area is filled with fun and fantastic inflatables as well as a crafting area.

Stop by the UPMC Health Plan van and get some important health measurements taken! Get a bone density check, have your blood pressure taken, and see what your Body Mass Index rating is all for free.

Could you live in 160 square feet?

On Saturday, tour the 84 Lumber Tiny House and see if you could live happily with less.

On Saturday, visit the Power Your Future mobile exhibit, underwritten

by EQT, which uses interactive games and activities to teach about natural gas and the many uses of this important natural resource.

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PRIDEFEST

ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, JUNE 8 Princex

Princex made their debut in 2017 as Just Fern with a glassy essence and the underground anthem "Let's Rob a Bank." On the rise ever since, Princex is making waves on the East Coast as a refreshing and soulful voice in pop. Princex.bandcamp.com

Melissa Otero Melissa Otero is a Pop/Rock and Latin Pop singer songwriter from New York City who has been featured on Lifetime’s "Dance Moms," in the video game Rock Band, and on Telemundo's "Reina de Corazones." This year brings fresh music with the release of her album Erotomania. The lead single "Speak," which is dedicated to the LGBTQ community, was released on February 1.

Melissaotero.com

Bryce

Billy Winn

The Danbees

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

Bryce is a dance-pop singer-songwriter based in Washington, DC. With his brand of magnetic and provocative live performance, Bryce weaves LGBTQ narratives in his music. Brycemusiq.com

Billy Winn is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer who has been captivating audiences with his energetic shows and music releases, ranging from high energy dance records to emotionally charged EDM. Billy reached the top 20 on the Billboard Dance chart with the song “Future X Boyfriend.” Billywinn.com

Named the “coolest, young rock band from Brooklyn,” The Danbees are a fun, energetic, spontaneous rock’ n roll band. Thedanbees.com

Brave and Crazy

Young Foolie

Brave and Crazy is an all-female band with a show that features over three decades of music from Melissa Etheridge. With over 100 years of playing experience, Melissa fans of all ages will appreciate these legendary rock hits brought to life.

Facebook.com/BraveAndCrazyME

Young Foolie is a female rapper from Benson, North Carolina. She is songwriter, rapper and percussionist.

Music has always been her way of life since the age of five and she is now persuing her dream of being a rapper and producer. Twitter.com/yfcloutboy

ARIBAND

The Lemington Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh

Ari Charbonneau of ARIBAND is a Boston based singer-songwriter whose music crosses over folk, blues, pop, and self proclaimed "unfiltered RAWK." With a unique and striking voice and an ability to draw outside the lines, ARIBAND's improvised live musical arrangements include a touch of comedy and unorthodox song structures. Facebook.com/aribandofficial 70

Tshila

Born in Uganda, singer, songwriter and producer Tshila was named one of the 20 best unsigned artists in the world by the BBC World Service. Her first album, “Sipping From the Nile,” was released in 2006 and gained recognition from music critics around the world. Her second album “World in Crisis” addresses the social and political challenges the world faces, especially from an African woman's perspective. Tshila.com

Under the direction of Rev. Deryk Tines, the Lemington Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh promises a good old foot stomping, hand clapping, soul stirring gospel singing of hymns, classics and original compositions.

SUNDAY, JUNE 9 Bridge 19

Like a fine Kentucky bourbon, the Louisville band Bridge 19 has come of age with its new third album “In the Afterglow.” Mature and bold but sweet and satisfying, Bridge 19 sings about serious, timely topics while ensuring that their songs remain charming and fun. The band has performed at music festivals including MidPoint, RiverRoots, FreeFall, Lilith Fair and the International Folk Festival. They’ve also been featured on NPR, were ranked No. 1 in Thrillist’s “Top Louisville Bands You Need to Hear,” and was a finalist for Folk Artist of the Year at the 2015 Louisville Music Awards.

Bridge19.com

Namoli Brennet Named by Tuscon Weekly as “among the best folk-rock artists in the US,” singer/songwriter and trans woman Namoli Brennet has been touring the U.S. and Europe for over 12 years. A 4-time Outmusic award nominee, Namoli has been featured in the inaugural Trans 100 list and has self-released an astonishing 13 albums since her debut in 2002. Her music was featured in the Emmy-award-winning documentary “Out in the Silence” which details the struggle of a gay teen growing up in rural Pennsylvania.

NamoliBrennet.com

No/Hugs

No/Hugs is an intense alternative rock band who has completed three national tours with headlining slots at Boston's Japan Festival, Salem's Annual Halloween Festival, Portland Pride and had a 2018 nomination as Best Band Of The Year by the annual Boston Music Awards. Nohugsband.com

Joey Suarez Joey Suarez is quickly becoming one of the hottest names in Electronic Pop music. As an independent artist, Joey has already earned 350K plays worldwide, garnishing over 135K followers.

His recent release “Dancing by Myself” ranked #9 on the UK POP Charts. His previous singles “High in the Sky” and “Love me back” has been featured in Billboard, Huntington Post, and Digital Journal.

Joeysuarez.com

C.J. Mitchell C.J. Mitchell is a singer, songwriter, musician, and choreographer based in Pittsburgh. His latest studio album entitled “Music Therapy” is now available on iTunes, Spotify, and Tidal. C.J. loves performing and proudly represents his fellow LGBTQIA community wherever he goes. Facebook.com/CJmusictherapy

Lena Jackson Lena Jackson is a rapper, writer and poet from Raleigh, North Carolina. Lena began writing poetry as a child and later became intrigued by the cipher rap sessions she would see at school cafeterias in her teens. She eventually learned to interchange poetry stanzas for rapbars, and found pleasure in both spoken word and cipher rapping.

Affectionately referred to as "The Wolf" for her fierceness and lyrical stamina, Lena's guest features and live performances expose her raw talent and spirited personality. Lenajacksonmusic.com

For the latest PrideFest schedule, visit pittsburghpride.org or the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh Facebook page.

Both days of PrideFest will also include performances from the region's drag queen and king community, including the winners of Miss Gay Pittsburgh Pride, Miss Gay Pittsburgh Teen Pride, Mr. Pittsburgh Pride Drag King and Miss Pride Femme Fatale.

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VENDORS 84 Lumber ACLU-PA Greater Pittsburgh Chapter Adagio Health Aetna ALCOSAN Allegheny County Bar Association LGBT Rights Committee Allegheny County Department of Human Services Allies for Health + Wellbeing American Cancer Society American Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Window Industries Animal Friends Animal Lifeline Auberle Foster Care Bayer US Bridges Hospice Brambler Boutique Burgh Bears Camp Bow Wow Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Caroselli Beachler & Coleman Central Outreach Wellness Center Chevron ConnectiveRX Covestro Center for Victims City of Pittsburgh Careers City Theatre Company Classic Travel & Tours Community College of Allegheny County Conover Organic Farm 72 Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

as of April 30, 2019

Dakota James Foundation Douglas Education Center Dress for Success East Liberty Presbyterian Church Empower Your Odyssey EQT Every Child Excela Health FBI Pittsburgh First Commonwealth Bank Footprints to Recovery Freedom Healthcare Full Spectrum Community Outreach Giant Eagle Specialty Pharmacy Gilead Green Mountain Energy Haunted Hills Estate Scream Park HelloFresh Highmark Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh Honor Your Body Wellness Howard Hanna Humane Animal Rescue Human Rights Campaign Husky PAWS Rescue iHeartRadio Inspire Kiwanis Clubs of Western Pennsylvania Leather Trash Legacy Remodeling Love Alchemy Clothing Lues Fashions Lutherans for Full Participation: ReconcilingWorks ModCloth Mylan Nemacolin Woodlands New Horizons Pittsburgh

Nissan Orlando Travel Peace Corps Peg’s Pampered Pet Products Persad Center PFLAG Pittsburgh PGH Equality Center Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden Pitt Men’s Study Pittsburgh Action Against Rape Pittsburgh CLO & CLO Cabaret Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Pittsburgh Freethought Community Pittsburgh Frontrunners Pittsburgh Hispanic–Business Incubator Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Prime Timers Pittsburgh Public Theatre Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Pittsburgh Vape Van Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Planned Parenthood of Western PA Point Park University Port Authority of Allegheny County Positive Health Clinic of Allegheny Health Network PPG Presbyterian SeniorCare Network PriceWaterhouseCoopers Project Silk Proper Pit Bull Proud Haven PSquare Scents Rainbow Island RE/MAX Real Estate Solutions

ReelQ – Pittsburgh International LGBTQ Film Festival Rehumanize International Renaissance City Choir Sixth Presbyterian Church Shepherd Wellness Community Smile with Pride Stage AE Steel City Stonewall Democrats Stewie’s Got Pride St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Stonewall Alliance Tibbott & Richardson P.C. Timber Pix Design: Custom and Original Wood Prints The Brave Heart Foundation of Pittsburgh Thermo Fisher Scientific Three Rivers Business Alliance T-Mobile Tobacco Free Allegheny To Write Love on Her Arm Treehug Trading Co TRIM Pittsburgh Two Dads and a Dog Pet Service University of Akron TRI-Lab University of Pittsburgh HIV Treatment & Prevention Program UPMC VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Visit Pittsburgh Walmart Western PA Inclusive United Methodists Westmoreland Museum of Art WQED Zing Basket

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YMCA of GREATER PITTSBURGH

Proud to support Pittsburgh Pride

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Discover your Y today at pittsburghymca.org Valid at any YMCA of GREATER PITTSBURGH location

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EQUALITY MARCH

Sunday, June 9 | 12:30 PM Blvd. of the Allies & Grant Street

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The March begins at the corner of Grant Street & the Boulevard of the Allies, proceeds down Grant Street, turns left onto Fifth Avenue, and finally a right onto Liberty verAvenue. lvd ve 5th A ay il W

Join us as we march through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh in solidarity using our voices to ensure that every members of our community–including those who are the most marginalized–are acknowledged, included and treated with dignity and respect.

PARADE ROUTE

Cec

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in NYC, a series of violent demonstrations, led by the trans community, took place. Today, the Stonewall Riots are widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBTQ rights.

PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS

As of AsApril of April 27, 27, 2019 2019

ShowClix ShowClix Nemacolin Nemacolin Woodlands Woodlands Resort Resort Community Community of Reconciliation of Reconciliation 3 Rivers 3 Rivers Cosplay Cosplay Church Sixth Sixth Presbyterian Presbyterian Church Church Nordstrom Nordstrom 501st 501st Legion Legion – Starkiller – Starkiller Garrison Garrison Church Dakota Dakota James James Foundation Foundation Starbucks Starbucks Ohio Ohio Valley Valley Pride Pride 8484 Lumber Lumber Denham Denham & Company & Company Steel Steel City City Sisters, Sisters, Abbey Abbey of the of the Penn Penn HillHill VFD VFD Station Station 221 221 ACLU-PA ACLU-PA Greater Greater Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Trinity Trinity Rivers Rivers Direct Direct Energy Energy Business Business Chapter Chapter Persad Persad Center Center St. St. Brendan’s Brendan’s Episcopal Episcopal Church Church Dress Dress forfor Success Success Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Adagio Adagio Health Health PFLAG PFLAG Greensburg Greensburg St. St. Johns Johns United United Church Church of Christ of Christ East East Liberty Liberty Presbyterian Presbyterian Church Church PFLAG ADP ADP PFLAG Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steel Steel City City Stonewall Stonewall Democrats Democrats Eaton Eaton Aetna Aetna PGH PGH Equality Equality Center Center Stonewall Stonewall Alliance Alliance EQT EQT Alcoa Alcoa Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Biker Biker Chicks Chicks Studio Studio Raw Raw Elite Elite Motorcycle Motorcycle Club Club Excela Excela Health Health ALCOSAN ALCOSAN Thermo Fisher Fisher Scientific Scientific Pittsburgh Commission Commission on on Human Human Thermo Faith Lutheran Lutheran Church Church of Upper of Upper Pittsburgh Allegheny Allegheny County County BarBar Association AssociationFaith Relations Relations St. St. Clair Clair LGBT LGBT Rights Rights Committee Committee TheThe Milk Milk Shake Shake Factory Factory Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Freethought Freethought FedEx Ground Ground Allegheny Allegheny County County Department Department of of FedEx TheThe Mission Mission Continues Continues Community Community Human Human Services Services First First Commonwealth Commonwealth Bank Bank Three Three Rivers Rivers Leather Leather Club Club Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Furries Furries American American Cancer Cancer Society Society FullFull Spectrum Spectrum Community Community Tito’s Tito’s Handmade Handmade Vodka Vodka Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pride Pride Colorguard Colorguard Outreach Outreach Center Center Allegheny Allegheny Health Health Network Network Tobacco Tobacco Free Free Allegheny Allegheny Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pride Pride Performer Performer David David Trend Giant Giant Eagle Eagle Allies Allies forfor Health Health + Wellbeing + Wellbeing Trend Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Salon Salon W.W. Peters Peters Google American American Foundation Foundation forfor Suicide Suicide Google University University of Pittsburgh of Pittsburgh HIVHIV Pittsburgh Prime Prime Timers Timers Prevention Prevention Greater Greater Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Mama Mama Bears Bears Pittsburgh Treatment Treatment & Prevention & Prevention Pittsburgh Transgender Transgender AmerisourceBergen/Lash AmerisourceBergen/Lash Group Group Haunted Program Program Haunted Hills Hills Estate Estate Scream Scream Park Park Pittsburgh Planned Planned Parenthood Parenthood of Western of Western UPMC Animal Animal Lifeline Lifeline UPMC Highmark Highmark PAPA Arconic Arconic U.S. U.S. Steel Steel Howard Howard Hanna Hanna Point Point Park Park University University BiPgh BiPgh VAVA Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Healthcare Healthcare System System Humane Humane Animal Animal Rescue Rescue Port Port Authority Authority of Allegheny of Allegheny Blue Blue Moon Moon BarBar Visit Visit Pittsburgh Pittsburgh iHeart iHeart Radio Radio County County Burgh Burgh Bears Bears Walmart Walmart Jones Jones Day Day PPG PPG Cardworks Cardworks Willis Willis Towers Towers Watson Watson K&L K&L Gates Gates PriceWaterhouseCoopers PriceWaterhouseCoopers ConnectiveRX ConnectiveRX Zing Zing Basket Basket KPMG KPMG Proud Proud Haven Haven Carnegie Carnegie Library Library of Pittsburgh of Pittsburgh LyftLyft Real Real Luck Luck Cafe Cafe Columbia Columbia GasGas of Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania Moxie Moxie Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Renaissance Renaissance City City Choir Choir Community Community College College of Allegheny of Allegheny Mr.Mr. & Miss & Miss Laurel Laurel Highlands Highlands REMAX REMAX Select Select Realty Realty County County Mylan Mylan

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We salute the following Pittsburgh leaders who have participated in the Equality March and believe that the LGBTQ community deserves to be treated equally and with dignity & respect.

Jerad Bachar

Executive Vice President VisitPITTSBURGH

Kevin Bolding

President & CEO YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh

Heather Bresch

CEO Mylan

Christine S. Breves

Vice President, Manufacturing Support & Chief Supply Chain Officer United States Steel Corporation

Dr. Quintin Bullock

President CCAC

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David B. Burritt

President & Chief Executive Officer United States Steel Corporation

Frank Coonelly

President Pittsburgh Pirates

Craig Davis

John Galley

SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer UPMC

Cindy Hundorfean

President & CEO Allegheny Health Network

Justin Kaufman

President & CEO VisitPITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Managing Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers

Robert DeMichiei

Special Agent in Charge Robert Allan Jones

EVP & Chief Financial Officer UPMC

Cindy Donohoe

Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Highmark Health

FBI Pittsburgh

Katharine Kelleman

CEO Port Authority

Thomas Loftus

Chief Marketing Officer VisitPITTSBURGH

Maggie Hardy Knox

Owner & President 84 Lumber & Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Michael McGarry

Gregory Swetoha

Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh

Dr. James Taylor

Chief Diversity Officer & Learning Officer UPMC

Lisa Witte

President & CEO PPG Industries

President, Research & Safety Market Division Thermo Fisher Scientific

Barry Melnkovic

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr.

Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer United States Steel Corporation

Gregory Peaslee

EVP & Chief Administrative Officer UPMC

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PITTSBURGH PRIDE

OFFICIAL CLOSING PARTY Sunday, June 9 | 7 – 10 PM Ft. Duqesne Blvd. & 7th Street

Bring your shimmer, sequins, leather and studs as we celebrate the closing of Pittsburgh Pride 2019 with an extra special bonus event featuring DJ Tony Moran.

The thunderous beats of Tony Moran have resonated throughout clubs and arenas around the world, and have dominated the Billboard dance charts for decades. When artists like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez want to tear up the dance floor, they call upon the top-ranked DJ and Grammy-nominated producer and remixer for The Moran Sound --- hard hitting tribal house anthems infused with the latest cutting edge sounds in electronica.

With more than 800 titles, dozens of Top 40 pop hits and countless #1 dance singles to his credit, the two-time Grammy-nominated Moran shows no signs of slowing down. Driven as ever, but imbued with the creative freedom to develop and evolve his trademark sound on his own terms, Moran -- like his contemporaries and role models Paul Oakenfold, Tiesto, Bob Sinclair and David Guetta -- is taking his music across the globe from the Americas to Europe to Asia and back.

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DJ TONY MORAN

You haven’t been to

PITTSBURGH

until you’ve been to

The Warhol

The Andy Warhol Museum receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency and The Heinz Endowments. Further support is provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Andy Warhol, Silver Clouds, 1966, ©The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., photo ©Abby Warhola

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Treating all with compassion, kindness and dignity!

We support diversity and inclusion by maintaining a welcoming environment for all our residents and team members across western Pennsylvania. j That same commitment drives our efforts, which began more than 20 years ago, to help local homeless and at-risk persons living with HIV/AIDS. j By working with other nonprofits and agencies, we are helping to remove discrimination and barriers to provide affirmative housing for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as these vulnerable individuals and their families. j It’s all part of the person-centered approach that guides everything we do.

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NYC TO PGH: 50 YEARS AFTER

STONEWALL Friday, June 28 | 6 PM

5800 Block of Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the New York City Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, a bar frequented by members of the LGBTQ community.

However things didn’t quite go as planned when the LGBTQ community, led by transgender people of color, started a peaceful demonstration that quickly turned violent against the New York City Police Department.

Five decades later, let's come together to remember and honor this important turning point in our history as we unveil a permanent art installation at the intersection of Ellsworth & Maryland thanks to the efforts of Councilwoman Erika Strassburger. Show up, stand up, and let your voices be heard as our fight for equality continues!

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PRIDE DAY AT PNC PARK

JOIN THE PIRATES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AT PNC PARK FOR OUR THIRD ANNUAL PRIDE DAY.

SUNDAY

JULY 7 | 1:35PM

SECTIONS

Corner Box - $30 Infield Grandstand - $23

Each ticket includes a special Pirates Pride Day Cap.

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POSE REALNESS! THE CATEGORY IS…

by Christine Bryan

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The ballroom is ready to reopen on Sunday, June 9th with 10 shady episodes of the drama series Pose. Pose explores the underground world of ballroom; an LGBTQ sub-culture in which people ‘walk’ (compete) to win trophies at elaborate balls.

The show features the largest cast of LGBTQ characters for a scripted series ever, plus a large amount of transgender actors.

Pose explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society: the underground ball culture, the rise of the Trump-era luxury universe and the downtown social and literary scene that came to define New York in the 1980s. Voguing, we are reminded with bodies not words, is more than a way of life. It’s an act of black queer resistance.

So far, Pose—which was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals—has been nominated for a 2019 Golden Globe for Best Television Series Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama for Pittsburgher Billy Porter, and earned a Peabody Award nomination.

Inspired by the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning, Pose gives a nod to everything from John Waters to Glow. Blanca Rodriguez works in a nail salon by day and is breaking away from the House of Abundance by night. She is part of a team that is competing in the underground ballroom scene, populated mostly by black and Latino trans and gay people.

These “houses” are run by formidable “house mothers,”

defiantly and poignantly recreating the families that once rejected them. Then there’s the city of New York, “the most iconic house mother of all,” who welcomes everybody into her bosom and stands for both nurture and danger.

Season 2 will make the leap into the following decade, opening on the day Madonna’s single “Vogue” was released in 1990.

Also, on the heels of the ballroom community establishing itself in pop culture and going mainstream, the House of Evangelista is forced to re-evaluate its goals. Meanwhile, the AIDS crisis worsens and the reaction from a group of activists reaches a fever pitch. Lead actress MJ Rodriguez will share many scenes with the double Grammy and double Tony winner Patti LuPone.

Sandra Bernhard—who made a guest appearance in season one as Nurse Judy Katz, caring for patients with HIV and AIDS—is set to return to Pose as a series regular.

LGBTQ icon Bette Midler and stage veteran Judith Light will also join the Pose cast, with show writer Janet Mock set to make her directorial debut. Murphy has also hinted that Madonna may well make a cameo.

Pose treats with respect, pathos, and love both the glamour of the ballroom and the guts of the AIDS crisis, transphobia, sexism, and racism. It’s a charismatic dance-off between appearance and reality, in which both sides are equally matched.

In Pittsburgh, community organization True T holds balls throughout the year.

Visit them on Facebook or at TrueTPgh.com

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THE ONE

by Chrissy Costa

I remember hearing the stories of how my grandparents met. How they smiled at one another from across a crowded dance floor and how quickly they decided to marry and start a family shortly after. And I remember thinking, “Wow, were they lesbians, too?”

I jest.

Actually I thought, “Wow, they just knew.” I’ve always found myself wrapped up in tales of romance and finding “the one,” just as my grandparents did so easily. I secretly watch romantic movies pretending I’m the girl who gets swept off her feet by the leading lady who always ends up being Mariska Hargitay. It’s so weird how she’s in all of my movies.

The problem with romantic movies, however, is that they’re not always realistic. Most offer a snippet of the highs within the ebb and flow of a real love story.

Unless you’re thinking of Titanic or Brokeback Mountain, in which case make you want to avoid love all together. Rose said she’d never let go.

Rose lied.

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What do we think happened after Sleepless in Seattle was over?

Do we think Annie and Sam lived happily ever after? Was Jonah the perfect son? We will never know but we were all so happy when they finally met up at the end of the movie, weren’t we? My guess is Annie discovered Sam had to sleep with a CPAP machine and even though he accepted her restless leg syndrome and her terrible laugh, she found it hard to be intimate with him after seven months. She later became addicted to Instagram and it inevitably tore them apart.

I wasn’t always this cynical.

I used to be a hopeless romantic. I may still be somewhere underneath layers of sarcasm deriving from disappointments and heart-wrenching break-ups. That’s what happens when your expectations transcend reality. It’s hard being a romantic in a hookup/microwave love society. It’s even harder being a loud, emotionally expressive Italian woman attracted to older women who just want peace and quietude at this point in their lives.

I have to wonder now if it was really love at first sight or if my Grandfather was the only man on the dance floor all those years ago. I’d like to believe my Grandmother would have swiped right for him on Tinder despite a pool of other men on PlentyOfFish.

Thankfully she never had to contend with such options. Of one thing I’m certain; she would have slapped the phone out of her date’s hand if he was rude enough to take a call whilst wooing her.

Everyone knows you wait until marriage before you start ignoring your partner.

I still daydream about finding my person. My “one” who will love and support me unconditionally. I’m just not sure she’s actually out there.

What happened to courting? Was it cock-blocked by Grindr? For men, I believe it was. For women I’d like to create an equivalent mobile app called Cuddlr, which will send alerts when other women are close in proximity so I can become rich off all the ladies who just want to lay around and talk about their exes when feeling lonely: “Karen is 72 meters away and needs to be held.”

Lately, friends have been pressuring me to start dating again, suggesting that I’ve become jaded. Listen, I thought I was dating someone a while ago. We’d been intimate and exclusive for almost a year when she informed me that we weren’t a couple. “What makes you think we’re in a relationship,” she asked. “Oh, I don’t know, babe, maybe because you’ve been closer to my cervix than a team of gynecologists this past year.”

After that I gave up.

I don’t understand these new rules, I’m still old school at heart.

All I know for sure is that dating after age 35 is basically HPV dodgeball, and that still sounds more exciting than having to share stories of my food allergies over dinner with a new date.

And if we’re being completely honest, I’m not anticipating learning all about someone’s genealogy or their last breakup as I sit and wonder how exactly they plan to eventually take it out on me.

First dates for lesbians can be foreplay to a marriage proposal these days. They can also be the demise of a second date if you jump immediately into a relationship. Or they can be the first time you go home with someone. You know what I mean. But maybe I want to eat my asparagus without worrying about how that will turn out for us later.

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While nothing turns me on as much as hearing about how horrible your ex is over a plate of overpriced lettuce, (insert next ex’s name here) I’m exhausted and hungry for real nourishment and a different type of stimulation.

How can I make time to get to know someone while doing my best to stay hydrated, sleep, post inspirational quotes to appear enlightened to Facebook friends I’ve never met, meditate, eat, grow eyebrows, and march in a pussy hat? I need a bigger hat. I need pussy pants! I want to put myself out there again. I also want to buy the newest iPhone but I don’t really want anyone to call me.

Maybe I am jaded.

I want to be courted and I’d love to woo someone. There doesn’t always seem to be a distinction between romance and codependency however, and I’ve lost the ability to trust my own intuitions.

If I can impart any of my therapist’s wisdom onto any of you in need it would be to stop waiting for another person to show up and do your job. Stop waiting for someone to love you. Stop waiting for a response. Let them leave your text on “read.” Let go of the fear of being alone and embrace yourself, flaws and all.

This way when the right person comes into your life you will already be complete and the rest will align as it should.

Some of us have been on a lifelong journey to fall in love with ourselves and there’s no shame in that. It just makes our story more intriguing. Maybe we’ll discover we are “The One” we’ve been waiting for. Perhaps my “she” has been here all along?

That was a beautiful thought to end on but if I find that Mariska is ever on Cuddlr I know I will throw myself at her with sappy stories of my exes in hopes of being held, or cuffed, all night long.

My base instinct wants to blame heterosexuals for waiting so long to allow us to marry; causing promiscuity and Peter Pan Syndrome.

That was a nice try, right?

The truth is I see many of us in this quandary.

For me, letting go has always been difficult. I can’t even throw away leftovers from my refrigerator without feeling guilty or wondering what could have been. For that I blame my Grandmother.

We invest so much time and energy with another person that when a relationship ends we’re left searching for our lost identity. We’ll either jump right into something else to numb the pain or we’ll shut others out completely. And we’ll repeat the cycle until we’ve taken the time to truly know, love, and trust ourselves again.

The evolution is in growing for yourself rather than changing for someone else. One of my first girlfriends told me I needed to learn how to communicate. I worked on it over the years until I thought I mastered the art of communication. And then the last girl I dated told me I talked too much. She said I couldn’t even stop talking in bed. I guess you can’t please em all.

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AMSTERDAM—

THEY’LL LEAVE THE RED LIGHT ON FOR YOU

By Rick Sicilio Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one city that should be on your “must visit” list. As a key player in the Golden Age of the 17th century when capitalism was born, Amsterdam through the years has transformed from a small medieval city to current status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2010). As one of the most forward-thinking countries, the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001. Amsterdam’s liberal policies on cannabis and prostitution, along with its acceptance of the LGBTQ community, make it a destination unlike any other.

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The city of Amsterdam is made up of different neighborhoods that showcase different styles and traditions of its culture. The best way to get a good feel of the city is to use the preferred method of transportation, a bicycle, and visit the different neighborhoods:

OLD CENTRE • Dam Square is the heart of Amsterdam and the meeting point of the city, where you can find the oldest buildings (Old Church and the Waag), the smallest buildings, and the best of 14th century architecture. The cobbled streets of Dam Square will guide you past restaurants, museums, shopping, and the famous coffee shops (look for the Jamaican flag in the window for your own 420 tour).

• The name Red Light District pretty much speaks for itself. Named after the red neon lights that shine in the windows of the prostitutes who are working, Amsterdam’s liberal and tolerant attitude honors the honesty that we are only human and enjoy different things.

Contrary to popular belief, this neighborhood is one of the safest in Amsterdam due to the clusters of policemen patrolling the area.

However, the city’s government has announced that it will end guided tours of the Red Light District beginning January 1, 2020, citing concerns about people (sex workers) being treated as a tourist attraction.

CANAL RING (UNESCO HERITAGE SITE) This whole district, which surrounds the Old Centre of Amsterdam, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural and historical value. The canals were built to drain the swampland in the area and

provide space in between them to expand the urban area of the city. In fact, each building in Amsterdam is built on stilts— stakes driven into the ground to provide a stable foundation. Amsterdam holds the title of the most “watery” cities in Europe and contains more canals (165) and bridges (1281) than Venice, Italy and Pittsburgh!

JORDAAN (COOL SIDE OF TOWN) For a real Amsterdam experience, Jordaan is a great place to start. Jordaan started as the working-class neighborhood, though now it’s one of Amsterdam’s upscale neighborhoods. Amsterdam’s Jordaan can be compared with Paris’ Montmartre.

In this neighborhood, you can find independent art galleries, antique shops, courtyard gardens, amazing restaurants, intellectuals, liberals, and the creative persons of the city. No wonder—its picturesque view, narrow streets, and quaint buildings make Jordaan postcard-perfect.

THE MUSEUM QUARTER This neighborhood was originally built for the wealthy in the early 1900s, housing many mansions and large squares. There are over 50 museums in Amsterdam, and some of the favorites can be found in Museumplein, the cultural center of the city. Here you can find the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art along with Vondelpark, the famous urban park.

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THINGS TO SEE

HOTELS

The Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings. vangomuseum.nl/en

Albus Hotel The Albus is a 74-room upscale boutique hotel located in Amsterdam’s Canal Ring, near many popular sights including the Flower Market, Rembrandt Square, and walking distance to Amsterdam’s original gayborhood, Reguliersdwarsstraat. albushotel.com/en

Rijksmuseum is considered to be one of the great hotels of the worlds and houses more than 8000 works of art. rijksmuseum.nl/en The Anne Frank House, the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family, has been well preserved and one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam. Annefrank.org/en Vonndelpark is Amsterdam’s public urban park and offers a chance to relax and experience what it’s like to be a local.

One of Amsterdam’s biggest attractions are its canals and cruising the canals is like a right of passage and one of the best opportunities for selfies. Floating down Amsterdam’s canals is one of the most memorable ways to discover the city's sights and attractions. Most canal cruises take around an hour, in which you'll explore Amsterdam's canal ring and discover plenty of interesting facts about the city along the way. A few of the best-known operators include Stromma, Blue Boat, and Lovers.

The Amsterdam Flower Market is your opportunity to stop and smell the tulips. The Bloemenmarkt is a “must see” in the spring when the tulips, daffodils, and roses are in full bloom.

The Flower Market is the only floating flower market in the world, and one of the most fragrant places of interest of Amsterdam no matter the season. Since 1862, the flower stalls stand on the houseboats and evoke the old days when the market was supplied daily by boat.

You will find at the market all sorts of tulips, narcissus, geraniums, and many other types of flowers. You can buy bouquets, single flowers, or bulbs. The bulbs are ready for export, so you can enjoy them at home too. Another great photo-op!

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Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht Located in the heart the canal belt, lifestyle hotel Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht is a concept by Hyatt and offers elegantly designed rooms with free Wi-Fi. The Jordaan area and Reguliersdwarsstraat are within a 15-minute walk. This hotel has a Spa & Wellness center where guests can enjoy a massage.

The Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House are both within ½ mile from the hotel. The Vondelpark is a 10-minute walk away.

Hyatt.com Amistad Hotel The Amistad is probably one of the most famous gay hotels in Amsterdam. It is gay-owned and managed with a homey feel to it. Staying here feels more like you're with a group of friends rather than in a big name hotel. Amistad is located near Club Church and is a short walking distance to the gay bars and clubs on Reguliersdwarsstraat. amistad.nl

BARS & CLUBS Though it’s one of the most inclusive cities in the world, the glory days of gay Amsterdam peaked in the 70s and 80s. You won’t find the same type of gay clubbing scene in Amsterdam that you expect in other big European cities like London or Berlin. However, Amsterdam still hosts monthly circuit parties, like the Rapido Events at Paradiso, an old church converted into a theater. clubrapido.com There are still a handful of gay bars in Amsterdam’s original gayborhood, Reguliersdwarsstraat including:

Another event worth checking out is the Milkshake Festival, a relatively new LGBTQ-focused, outdoor music festival held in July. The Milkshake Festival is an inclusive party celebrating diversity with a fun crowd. This welcoming party has great live entertainment for everyone. milkshakefestival.com Amsterdam, like Pittsburgh, brings people of all colors, genders, religions, and cultures together to say: “We Are One.” So grab those wooden clogs and get ready to experience Amsterdam!!

• SoHo is a local favorite and offers a cozy space for after-work drinks or a night out. SoHo also has DJs spinning on the weekends for special events. With a cute staff and fun crowd, Soho is an authentic gay Amsterdam experience.

• Taboo is another fun bar has fabulous drag shows in an intimate space. Local drag queens host live shows every Wednesday. Regulars come to Taboo for happy hour to socialize and jump start a night of fun. Taboobar.nl • NYX is Amsterdam’s main gay dance club (formerly called Exit) and is one of the few venues still hosting dance parties.

In a four-story building, NYX hosts different themed events with local and international DJs playing a variety of music. clubnyx.nl The other popular gayborhood is between Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat. This is where you can find fetish shops, cruising bars like Eagle, leather bars like Cuckoo’s Nest or lose your inhibition at Dirty Trick. No wonder it’s right by the famous Red Light District!

Amsterdam is a city of tolerance and diversity. The first weekend in August is dedicated to Gay Pride and the city celebrates with parties and performances. It’s an unusual as the actual parade takes place on the water, with spectators watching from the banks of Amsterdam’s famous canals. Huge boats full of sexy dancers and leather clad bears float along the waterways of the city. amsterdamgaypride.nl

FOR TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS: rick@classtravelandtours.com classictravelandtours.com 724-733-8747

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SORRY, IT'S NOT ME...

IT'S YOU. IT'S TIME TO BREAK UP WITH TOBACCO.

FREE HELP. NO EXCUSES. TobaccoFreeAllegheny.org 1-800-QUIT-NOW

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CCAC is proud to support

PITTSBURGH PRIDE

Visit ccac.edu and discover what CCAC has to offer.

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People are trademarks of ADP, LLC.

With one of the most diverse student populations of any higher education institution in Pittsburgh, CCAC has long been committed to fostering a culture where diversity, equity and inclusion are institutional priorities. Through education, training and outreach, the college promotes a culture where varying perspectives are welcomed and valued.

What are you #Working For? It’s about more than what you do. It’s about achieving something greater. For yourself. And for others.

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HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits & Payroll.

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Learn more at design.adp.com

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35 Years of the Pitt Men's Study

by Natty Soltesz with reporting by Raymond Yeo The letters are about everyday life. The writers talk about plans for upcoming meetings and weekend parties. They worry about the upcoming election and whether the current conservative regime could continue for a second term. They crack inside jokes and gossip about the small world of gay Pittsburgh in the early 80s.

These letters are from the dying, part of the archives of the Pitt Men's Study (PMS), which has been researching the natural history of HIV/AIDS for the past 35 years. And so the invitee to that party considers staying home, fearful of appearing in public with his ravaged complexion. And a memo from a colleague is followed by an obituary: he's succumbed to the very disease he built his career on fighting.

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DR. CHARLES RINALDO

Crammed in full-to-bursting folders on the fourth floor of the PMS's Oakland office building, the letters are a small but poignant part of the study's rich and ongoing history. Beginning in 1984, the Pitt Men's Study part of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology in the Graduate School of Public Health of the University of Pittsburgh, has followed approximately 3,000 men to gather information on the disease. Volunteers attend twice-yearly appointments where they answer detailed behavioral questionnaires and have their blood drawn amongst a battery of other tests.

DR. MACKEY FRIEDMAN

"The study's longevity is due to the incredible response from the community to one of the major health crises of our time," says PMS clinic coordinator William Buchanan. "None of it would have been possible without the volunteers."

Those letters help to explain their commitment. Many of those involved in the study's early days didn't survive the years before the development of protease inhibitor drugs, when contracting HIV was akin to a death sentence.

In those fearful days, faced with a government that was ignorant if not negligent, people had to take their health in their own hands. In the face of stigma and indifference, the Pitt Men’s Study was a place that advocated for them and took their lives seriously. It was a source of information and of hope.

The origin of the study can be traced to 1982, when a straight University of Pittsburgh researcher Dr. Charles Rinaldo met with a young gay medical student named David Lyter to discuss the opportunistic infections that were killing gay and bisexual men. From this came the Pilot Study, which formed the basis for a 1983 National Institutes of Health grant application that created the Pitt Men's Study, part of the national Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) with additional sites in Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore.

DR. TONY SILVESTRE

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Key to the early success of the study was community involvement. Lyter did most of the recruiting early on, and others were soon brought into the fold.

"I had a background in community organizing and one of the principles I learned was that I couldn't do it - that the recruitment would have to be done by the community," says co-investigator Dr. Anthony Silvestre, who began working for the PMS in 1984. Silvestre led the initiative to start the Community Advisory Board (CAB), a diverse group of who helped the study to respond to the needs of the community and shape its recruitment efforts. The study's alliance with The Tavern Guild, a group of gay bar and bathhouse owners, was instrumental in spreading awareness and support for the research. Researchers hit the bars, picnics and anywhere else they could to find men who would volunteer their time, blood, semen and more in an effort to gain knowledge about the still-nascent epidemic.

In its three-plus decades, the study has helped researchers to understand exactly how the virus is spread. It helped to map the epidemic's size, particularly in gay and bisexual communities, and revealed that some had a genetic resistance to the virus.

"I believe the work of the PMS and CAB helped tremendously to prevent Pittsburgh's epidemic from growing to the same extent as that of other major cities," Dr. Lyter says. "Seeing what was happening to men in larger cities throughout the country and world was a great motivation for guys from the 'burgh to avail themselves of the resources the PMS had to offer."

As the years have gone by and the data have amassed (both numerical and physical as the study maintains stores of frozen blood from the early 1980s onward), the focus of the research shifted, largely due to medications that, for many, changed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable disease.

"The study continues to do the really groundbreaking work that it has always done in studying the natural history of HIV infection in gay and bisexual men, but it is continuing to break new ground by looking at gay and bisexual men as they age, which no study has done before."

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These days, researchers are studying agingrelated diseases like diabetes and heart disease and trying to determine what role HIV plays in those diseases.

They are examining issues around new HIV prevention methods like PrEP in a population of gay and bisexual men over time, issues Friedman lays out thusly: "How long do they stay on PrEP? Do they stop PrEP and restart it? Does their PrEP use align with their sexual risk?" Then there are the financial, social and emotional issues that come with a disease that is newly diagnosed in nearly forty thousand Americans each year.

"One of the things we're looking at is how people endure and cope with stigma, particularly intersectional stigma," Friedman says. "How does HIV affect the lives of black gay and bisexual men? People who are multiply marginalized, for instance - how do people endure and cope with discrimination, and how can we best fight stigma? Approaches in medical settings, for example - how do we create welcoming environments when people walk in the door?" To this end, the study is gearing up to do additional recruitment primarily with black and African American gay and bisexual men.

"We know that these communities are severely impacted by HIV," Friedman says. "There are serious health inequities by race in HIV infection and HIV outcomes and we're hoping to work with the African American community in Pittsburgh to find ways to develop solutions to those inequities."

Also, beginning this year, the MACS will be increasingly collaborating with the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS), which started in 1993 to look at the impact of HIV on women. By combining a men's and a women's HIV study, researchers have the opportunity to see if there are gender differences in things like cardiovascular risk and mental health in the context of HIV. But even with these new lines of inquiry, there's the question of what keeps the study's volunteers coming back. Some of those men have been volunteering for the study's entire 35-year history, showing up (not to mention finding parking) in Oakland every six months to submit to testing for an hour or more.

"They come back because they know they are pioneers," Friedman says. "Their contribution to this research has made it the longest study of gay and bisexual men's health in the world. People have given their blood, sweat, and tears, sometimes literally, to enable researchers to understand HIV much more deeply and more quickly than they would've been able to otherwise."

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Careers

Life is better when #youareyou At Philips we foster an inclusive working environment where people are valued and accepted for their uniqueness and where everyone can be themselves.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled Explore www.philips.com/careers

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YOU can

help find new ways of preventing HIV infection!

BE A HERO A cure for HIV is only possible with research!

We need male, female, transgender, straight, gay, bisexual, HIV-negative, and HIV-positive heroes!

You can make a difference by joining our research www.HIVregis.pitt.edu registry at:

Or by Calling 412-383-1313

University of Pittsburgh Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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Everyone needs Allies

• Testing + treatment • PrEP / PEP • HIV specialty care • Primary medical care • Pharmacy services • Community outreach

5913 Penn Ave., 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412.345.7456 alliespgh.org T:7.75”

Chevron is a proud sponsor of Pittsburgh Pride.

Learn more at chevron.com

CHEVRON, the CHEVRON Hallmark and HUMAN ENERGY are registered trademarks of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. © 2019 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved.

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CHEVRON, the CHEVRON Hallmark and HUMAN ENERGY are registered trademarks of Chevron Intellectual Property LLC. © 2019 Chevron U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved.

T:3.625”

Different perspectives bring different strengths.

At Chevron, our diverse workforce and inclusive work environment help us find better options, make better decisions, and reach better solutions in everything we do. Whether it’s our employees or our partners, diversity and inclusion are at the core of who we are and how we do business.

PINK PAGES ACCOMODATIONS Courtyard by Marriot 945 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-434-5551 marriot.com Distrikt Hotel Pittsburgh 453 Blvd. of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-339-1870 distrikthotel.com Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh East Liberty 123 S. Highland Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-665-0555 ihg.com Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh 620 William Penn Place Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-471-1170 Monaco-pittsburgh.com

Omni William Penn Hotel 530 William Penn Place Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-281-7100 Omnihotels.com Parador Inn 939 Western Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-231-4800 theparadorinn.com Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel 107 Sixth Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-562-1200 marriot.com The Priory Hotel 614 Pressley Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-231-3338 thepriory.com

Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh 1000 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-3700 westinpittsburgh.com Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown 600 Commonwealth Place Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-391-4600 wyndham.com

ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AARP aarp.org/pride AIDS Free Pittsburgh 650 Smithfield Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-586-6706 aidsfreepittsburgh.org

Allegheny County Commission on Human Relations 102 County Office Building 542 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-350-6945 county.allegheny.pa.us American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) 313 Atwood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-681-7736 aclupa.org/chapters/ greaterpittsburgh Center for Victims 3433 E. Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412-482-3240 Crisis Hotline: 866-644-2882 centerforvictims.org

Citizen Police Review Board 816 Fifth Avenue, Ste. 400 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-765-8023 cprbpgh.org City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations 908 City County Building 414 Grant St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2600 pittsburghpa.gov/chr Keystone Progress keystoneprogress.org Planned Parenthood of Western PA 800-230-7526 ppwp.org

Proud to Power

PITTSBURGH PRIDE Covestro is a proud sponsor of Pittsburgh PRIDE. Diversity is our strength.

Inclusion is our commitment.

Innovation is our direction. covestro.us

1-888-718-4253 showclix.com/ticketing/pride

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PINK PAGES Tobacco Free Allegheny 1501 Reedsdale Street, #400 1-800-QUIT-NOW tobaccofreeallegheny.org Women's Center of Beaver County 190 3rd Street Beaver, PA 15009 724-776-2032 Helpline: 877-629-1841 womenscenterbc.org

ATTORNEYS/CPAs Allegheny County Bar Association LGBT Rights Committee 412-261-6161 acba.org/LGBT-RightsCommittee

Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney, P.C. One Oxford Centre  301 Grant Street, 20th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-562-8800 bipc.com Caroseli, Beachler & Coleman, LLC 20 Stanwix Street, 7th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 866-466-5789 cbmclaw.com Elliot & Davis, P.C. 425 First Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-434-4911 elliot-davis.com Gill Law Offices 233 Merchant Street, Ste. 110 Ambridge, PA 15003 412-613-7544 jodigill@yahoo.com

Jones Day 500 Grant Street, Ste. 4500 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-391-3939 jonesday.com K&L Gates 210 Sixth Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-355-6500 klgates.com The Law Offices of Kathleen D. Schneider 1227 S. Braddock Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412-371-1900 kds.law@verizon.net

ATTRACTIONS The Andy Warhol Museum 117 Sandusky Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-237-8300 warhol.org Arcade Comedy Theater 943 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-339-0608 arcadecomedytheater.com August Wilson African American Cultural Center 980 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-258-2700 augustwilsoncenter.org Bricolage Production Company 937 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-471-0999 bricolagepgh.org

Health for the Community.

At Allegheny Health Network, we value our responsibility to serve the community. Together with our local partners, we are helping people stay healthy and enjoy a better quality of life.

The Positive Health Clinic is an HIV clinic that provides quality HIV care as well as HIV testing. If you are in need of our services call 412-359-3360.

Health for all. To learn more visit AHN.org/HIVHealth.

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Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Multiple Locations carnegielibrary.org Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh 4400 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-622-3131 carnegiemuseums.org City Theatre 1300 Bingham Street Pittsburg, PA 15203 412-431-CITY citytheatrecompany.org Palace Theater 21 West Otterman Street Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-8000 thepalacetheatre.org

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust 803 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-471-6070 pgharts.org

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 510 W. Station Square Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-865-4625 riverhounds.com

Pittsburgh Opera 2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-0912 pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Symphony 600 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-392-4872 pittsburghsymphony.org

Pittsburgh Penguins 1001 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-642-7367 nhl.com/penguins

Stage AE 400 North Shore Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-229-5483 promowestlive.com

Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park 115 Federal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-321-BUCS pittsburghpirates.com

Three Rivers Arts Festival 803 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-471-6070 3riversartsfest.org

BARS 941 Saloon 941 Liberty Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-5229 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe 5801 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-661-5600 5801videolounge.com Blue Moon 5115 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 412-781-1119 thenewbluemoon.com Brewer’s Hotel/Bar 3315 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 412-681-7991

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Element 5744 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-362-7746 elementpgh.com Images 965 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-391-9990 imagespittsburgh.com M&J’s Lounge 124 Mercer Street Butler PA 16001 724-996-7879 P-Town 4740 Baum Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-621-0111 ptownpgh.com

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Tilden 941 Liberty Avenue 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-5222 There Ultra Lounge 931 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-642-4435 Vice Versa 336 High Street Morgantown, WV 304-292-2010 viceversaclub.com

Proud to be a source of nonjudgmental health care and information.

Proud to support Pittsburgh Pride ©2019 ConnectiveRx. All rights reserved.

Real Luck Café 1519 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-471-7832

Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania

933 Liberty Ave. 1.800.230.PLAN www.ppwp.org @PPWPA Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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PINK PAGES CHURCHES/SPIRITUAL Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church 1110 Resaca Place Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-322-4261 alleghenyuu.org Bet Tikvah Rodef Shalom 4905 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-256-8317/412-621-6566 bettikvah.org Bower Hill Community Church 70 Moffet Street Pittsburgh, PA 15243 412-561-4114 Bowerhillchuch.org Calvary Episcopal Church 315 Shady Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-661-0120 calvarypgh.org

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Calvary United Methodist Church 971 Beech Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-231-2007 calvaryunitedmethodist.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church 116 South Highland Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-441-3800 cathedralofhope.org

First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh 5401 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-681-4222 firstumcpittsburgh.org

Community House Presbyterian Church 120 Parkhurst Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-321-3900 communityhousepittsburgh.org

East Suburban Unitarian Church 4326 Sardis Road Murrysville, PA 15668 724-327-5872 esuuc.org

Community of Reconciliation Church 100 North Bellefield Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-682-2751 communityofreconciliation.org

Episcopal Church of the Redeemer 5700 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-422-7100 redeemerpittsburgh.org

Golden Triangle Church of Religious Science 109 Pine Street 2nd Floor West Carnegie, PA 15106 412.749.0788 gtcrs.org

Dignity Pittsburgh dignitypgh.org

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh 605 Morewood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-621-8008 first-unitarian-pgh.org

Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community 2700 Jane Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412-481-4010 hotmetalbridge.com Judah Fellowship Church 1000 Bryn Mawr Road Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-552-3032 judahfellowship.org

Luna Rising /Pittsburgh Pagan Community lunarisingpgh.com Metropolitan Community Church 4836 Ellsworth Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-683-2994 mccpittsburgh.com One Church 937 Liberty Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-261-1692 onechurchpittsburgh@yahoo.com Rainbow Buddhists of Pittsburgh 201 S. Craig Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 zenbowpgh.blogspot.com

Religious Society of Friends 4836 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-683-2669 Rodef Shalom Congregation 4905 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-621-6566 rodefshalom.org Sewickley United Methodist Church 337 Broad Street Sewickley, PA 15143 412-741-9430 sewickleyumc.org St. Andrew Lutheran Church 304 Morewood Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-682-3342 st-andrew-church.org

St. Andrew Lutheran Church 987 Beaver Grade Road Moon Twp., PA 15108 412-264-4551 standrewmoontwp.com St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church 2365 McAleer Road Sewickley, PA 15143 412-364-3874 stbrendans.org St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 600 Pitt Street Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412-243-6100 ststephenspittsburgh.org Sixth Presbyterian Church 1688 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-421-2752 sixthchurch.org

South Avenue United Methodist Church 733 South Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412-371-7421 southavenueumc.org

Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills 1240 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412-561-6277 sunnyhill.org

Swissvale United Methodist Church 7415 Irvine Street Pittsburgh, PA 15218 swissvaleumc.org

Waverly United Presbyterian Church 5900 South Braddock Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15221 412-242-0643 waverlychurch.org

Temple Sinai 5505 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-421-9715 templesinaipgh.org

Zen Center of Pittsburgh 124 Willow Ridge Road Sewickley, PA 15143 412-741-1262 deepspringzen.org

Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills 2359 W. Ingomar Road Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-366-0244 uucnh.org

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Allegheny Conference on Community Development 11 Stanwix Street, 17th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-1890 alleghenyconference.org Alphabet City 211 N. Whitfield Street Suite 800 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 412-657-1229 alphabetcity.com Pittsburgh Foundation 5 PPG Place, Ste. 250 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-391-5122

blog.walmart.com

Washington: (724) 344.6625

Like Pittsburgh Pride we believe in connecting all persons with opportunities to achieve their dreams. For our communities, living better means greater access to opportunity for all. Together we can make a difference.

Lawrenceville: (412) 441.9786

Walmart is a proud sponsor of Pittsburgh Pride

PERSADCENTER.ORG

HERE FOR YOU

Lawrenceville: Counseling, groups, psychiatry, addictions services, community events Washington, PA: Counseling, groups, community events Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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PINK PAGES Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh 200 Ross Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-6600 ura.org Vibrant Pittsburgh 960 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-8600 vibrantpittsburgh.com Visit Pittsburgh 120 Fifth Avenue Suite 2800 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-7711 visitpittsburgh.com

EDUCATION Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-268-2905 cmu.edu CCAC 808 Ridge Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-237-2511 ccac.org Point Park University 201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-391-4100 ppu.edu University of Pittsburgh 4227 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-624-7488 pitt.edu

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & ADVISORS Citizens Bank Multiple Locations citizensbank.com First Commonwealth Bank Multiple Locations firstcommonwealth.com Huntington Bank Multiple Locations huntington.com Law Offices of Kathleen Schneider 1227 S. Braddock Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412-371-8831 PNC Bank Multiple Locations pncbank.com

Wells Fargo Advisors One Oxford Center, 36th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Kim Bowden 412-201-3843

HEALTH & MEDICAL

Allies for Health + Wellbeing 5913 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 412-345-7456 alliespgh.org Boak Dental 1910 E. Carson Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412-381-3373 boakdental.com

Adagio Health 2 Gateway Center 603 Stanwix Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 800-215-7494 adagiohealth.org Aetna 800-872-3862 Allegheny Health Network 412-DOCTORS ahn.og

Central Outreach Wellness Center Timber Court Building 127 Anderson St., Suite 101 Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-515-0000 95 Leonard Ave., Ste. 200 Washington, PA 15301 724-249-2517 centraloutreach.com

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CentralOutreach.com

Dr. Stacy Lane, D.O.

PITTSBURGH Timber Court Building 127 Anderson St., Ste. 101 Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 515-0000 108

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

WASHINGTON Monday 11 AM to 7 PM Tuesday-Friday 9 AM to 5 PM Walk-ins Welcome

95 Leonard Ave, Ste. 203 Washington, PA 15301-3399 (724) 249-2517

Wednesday & Thursday 9 AM to 5 PM and by appointment

Excela Health 532 West Pittsburgh Street Greensburg, PA 15601 724-689-0201 excelahealth.org Freedom Healthcare Services 316 Station Street Bridgeville, PA 15017 412-221-1090 freedomtreatment.com Highmark Fifth Avenue Place 120 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-544-7000 highmark.com

Metro Community Health Center 1789 S. Braddock Avenue, Ste. 410 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412-342-4044 metrocommunityhealthcenter.org MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center A427 Crabtree Hall 130 DeSoto Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261 412-624-1895 pamaaetc.org Persad Center 5301 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-441-9786 persadcenter.org

Pitt Men’s Study PO Box 7319 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 800-987-1963 stophiv.org

Presbyterian Senior Care 1215 Hulton Road Oakmont, PA 15138 412-828-5600

Pittsburgh AIDS Center for Treatment (PACT) University of Pittsburgh Infectious Diseases Falk Medical Building 3601 Fifth Avenue 7th Floor Falk Medical Building Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-647-7228 upmc.com/Services/divisioninfectious-diseases/services Positive Health Clinic 1307 Federal Street, Floor 1 Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-359-3360

Prevention Point Pittsburgh 460 Melwood Avenue, Ste. 205 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412-247-3404 pppgh.org Project Silk Community Human Services 2525 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-246-1600 projectsilk.org

Shepherd Wellness Community 4800 Sciota Street Pittsburgh, PA 15224 412-683-4477 swconline.org The Open Door PO Box 99243 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 info@opendoorhousing.org UPMC Multiple Locations 800-647-UPMC upmc.com

Shadyside Dentistry 5888 ½ Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 shadysidedentistry.com

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PortAuthority.org Member FDIC Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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PINK PAGES LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS Burgh Bears burghbears.org Carnegie Mellon University Allies allies.andrew.cmu.edu Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh 911 Galveston Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-322-2800 pittsburghpride.org Dreams of Hope P.O. Box 4912 Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-361-2065 dreamsofhope.org Fortunate Families 110 Chaucer Drive Greensburg, PA 15601 fortunatefamilies.com

G2H2 Pittsburgh g2h2pittsburgh.com Garden of Peace Project gardenofpeaceproject.org Gertrude Stein Political Club of Pittsburgh gertrudesteinclub.org Hot Metal Hardware hotmetalhardware.blogspot.com

PFLAG Greensburg 139 N Main Street Greensburg, PA 15601 724-610-9388 pflaggreensburg.org PFLAG Pittsburgh PO Box 5406 Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-833-4556 pflagpgh.org

Impulse Pittsburgh facebook.com/ImpulsePittsburgh

PGH Equality Center 5840 Ellsworth Ave., Ste. 100 Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412 422-0114 pghequalitycenter.org

Initiative for Transgender Leadership transyouthleaders.blogspot.com

Pittsburgh Black Pride 412-661-1350 pittsburghblackpride.org

Nexus Pittsburgh facebook.com/Nexuspgh

Pittsburgh Frontrunners Find the group on Facebook!

iCandy Pittsburgh icandipittsburgh@gmail.com

Pride as strong as steel At U. S. Steel, we’re proud to support Pittsburgh Pride. We believe that diversity and inclusion help make our workforce, our community — and all our futures — stronger.

Diversity & Inclusion

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Pittsburgh Gay & Lesbian Hockey pittsburghgayhockey.net Pittsburgh Ironmen facebook.com/pittironmen Pittsburgh Prime Timers PO Box 99292 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-519-4320 primetimersww.com PRISM of Beaver County 724-759-5228 prismofbeavercounty.org Reel Q/Pittsburgh LGBT Film Festival PO Box 81237 Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-422-6776 reelq.org

Renaissance City Choirs 116 S. Highland Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-362-9484 rccpittsburgh.org SAGE Western Pennsylvania 5301 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-441-9786 sageusa.org Sisters PGH 3948 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217 412-206-9190 sisterspgh.org Steel City Stonewall Democrats stonewalldemocrats.org/steel-city Steel City Bowling League steelcitybowling.org

Steel City Softball League PO Box 99493 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 steelcitysoftball.org Steel City Volleyball League 1 Herron Ave. Emsworth, PA 15202 412-506-3187 steelcityvolleyball.org Stonewall Sports Pittsburgh 901 Western Avenue, Courtyard Pittsburgh, PA 15233 stonewallsportspgh.org Trans Buddy PGH 412-944-4261 transbuddypgh@gmail.com TransPride Pittsburgh transpridepgh.blogspot.com TransYOUniting transyouniting@gmail.com facebook.com/TransYOUniting

T.R.E.A.T. treatpgh.org True T Pittsburgh 4923 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15223 412-291-8196 TrueTpgh.com University of Pittsburgh Rainbow Alliance 611 William Pitt Union 412-648-7834 studentaffairs.pitt.edu/lgbtqia

PETS Animal Friends 562 Camp Horne Road Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-847-7000 thinkingoutidethecage.org

Cherished Ones 2878 Jameson Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15226 petperennials.com Humane Animal Rescue 6926 Hamilton Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-345-7300 humaneanimalrescue.org

REALTORS Coldwell Banker Multiple Locations pittsburghmoves.com Howard Hanna Real Estate Multiple Locations howardhanna.com RE/MAX Select Realty Multiple Locations selecthomefinder.com

RESTAURANTS/BAKERIES Altius 1230 Grandview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15211 412-904-4442 altiuspgh.com Bakersfield 940 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 bakersfieldtacos.com Bistro 19 711 Washington Road Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228 412-306-1919

Crazy Mocha Multiple Locations crazymocha.com Hard Rock CafĂŠ 230 West Station Square Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-481-7625 hardrockcafe.com Harris Grill Downtown 245 Fourth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-2072 harrisgrill.com

Chipotle Multiple Locations chipotle.com

Harris Grill Shadyside 5747 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-362-5273 harrisgrill.com

Condado Taco’s 917 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-281-9111 candadotacos.com

Lucca 317 S. Craig Street Pittsburgh, PA 0.15213 412-682-3310 luccaristorante.com

Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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PINK PAGES Pamela’s Multiple Locations pamelasdiner.com Priory Fine Pastries 528 East Ohio Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-321-7270 prioryfinepastries.com Shiloh Grill 123 Shiloh Street Pittsburgh, PA 15211 412-431-4000 theshilohgrill.com Simple Greek Market Square 431 Market Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-261-4976 thesimplegreek.com Square Café 1137 South Braddock Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15218-1250 412-244-8002 square-cafe.com Tessaro’s 4601 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224 412-682-6809

RETAIL

SERVICES

84 Lumber Multiple Locations 84lumber.com

Allegheny County Department of Human Services 1 Smithfield Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-350-5701 alleghenycounty.us/ human-services

Alex's East End Floral Shoppe 236 Shady Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-661-6071 American Eagle Outfitters Multiple Locations ae.com Eons Fashion Antique 5850 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 412-361-3368 Eyetique 2242 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15217-2308 412-422-5300 eyetique.com

Classic Tours & Travel 795-16 Pine Valley Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15239 724-733-8747 tripsandcruises.com

Sephora Multiple Locations sephora.com

LasikPlus Multiple Locations lasikplus.com

Club Pittsburgh 1139 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 412-471-6790 clubpittsburgh.com

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

City of Pittsburgh Careers 414 Grant Street, Ste. 431 Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412-255-2705 pghjobs.net

Dormont Florist 2900 W. Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412-561-9070

SAUNAS

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Allegheny County Dog Licenses John K. Weinstein Allegheny County Treasurer 436 Grant St., Room 109 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-350-4777

Liberty Travel Multiple Locations libertytravel.com MetroPCS Multiple Locations metropcs.com

Pitt Ohio 15 27th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 800-366-7488 pittohio.com Studio RAW 3185 Babcock Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-367-2444 mystudioraw.com Three Rivers Business Alliance 3rba.com Two Dads and a Dog 4018 Shoreham Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 412-567-3931 twodadsandadog.com

UTILITIES ALCOSAN 3300 Preble Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412-766-4810 3riversproud.com Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania nisource.com 888-460-4332 Direct Energy directenergy.com Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-255-2600

The strongest communities are those that welcome and include all members. Where all are treated equal. Where prejudice doesn’t exist.

We salute the efforts of the Delta Foundation and Pittsburgh Pride 2019.

MEMBER FDIC

Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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A special supplement to the Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

A Report to the Community

THE POWER OF

PRIDE 114

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

“The most successful regions welcome all kinds of people.

The presence of an LGBTQ community in large numbers is an indicator of an underlying culture that is open-minded and diverse. People look for cities with lots of gay people when they are hunting for a place to live and work. The presence of gays signals an exciting place, where people can fit in and be themselves.”

RICHARD FLORIDA, THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS

TABLE OF CONTENTS PITTSBURGH PRIDE EQUALITY MARCH

PITTSBURGH’S MOST COLORFUL MARCH

SPORTS INITIATIVE

CITY OF CHAMPIONS

WELLNESS INITIATIVE

PrEP IN PITTSBURGH

2018 Board of Directors Gary A. Van Horn, Jr., President Dr. Stacy Lane, Vice President Jim Sheppard, Secretary Charles W. Honse, Treasurer Martin Healey W. Jonathan Holmes Patrick J. Journet William R. Kaelin* Charles C. Lukehart August "Buss" C. Pusateri Dena Stanley Donnie R. Thinnes* Charles P. Tierney**

ADVOCACY

OUR MOST IMPORTANT WORK

MEDIA RELATIONS

TELLING POSITIVE LGBTQ STORIES

* Emeritus Board Members * Deceased

Staff

Christine L. Bryan

Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

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THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

PITTSBURGH PRIDE Because of Pittsburgh Pride, the Delta Foundation invests in equipment and infrastructure which allows us to continue to provide a great value to our participants each year. By owning these items, we are able to keep our costs as low as possible, especially for our non-profit vendors, so that the event is accessible to everyone.

Hiring a company to erect vendor booths at PrideFest would cost approximately $500 each and we are proud that our registration fees are among the lowest of similar sized Pride events.

Given that we have items such as tents, tables, chairs, picnic tables, coolers, barricades, radios, and sound equipment, we outreach to other organizations and provide these items at low cost or no cost.

This allows the Foundation to develop and build relationships with organizations who may have never worked with the LGBTQ community before including Special Olympics of Western Pennsylvania, Strip District Neighbors, Calvary United Methodist Church, and the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition to just name a few. Through the generosity of a funder, we also have a production printer machine so that we are able to provide printed materials at a greatly reduced rate within a quick timeframe. In turn, these organizations including Pittsburgh Black Pride, TransPride Pittsburgh, and the Let's Get Free Women and Trans Prisoner Defense Committee are able to save dollars they would’ve otherwise spent to rent or print these items.

annual Labor Day Parade, we provided them the use of radios.

• Pittsburgh Black Pride and its two major events: At the Health Fair in Market Square, we provided tables and chairs for each of the 27 health organization who provided much-needed resources. At the annual BBQ in Schenley Park, we provided picnic tables, tents, tables, chairs and coolers. We also printed 200 copies of the Program Book.

• Tables and coolers were donated to Stonewall Sports Pittsburgh to be used for an event they were having for the teams.

• For a fundraiser held at the Ace Hotel, we donated the use of sound equipment and lights to Persad Center.

• For TransPride Pittsburgh’s Pride Week Professional Week, we donated the printing of 100 program books.

• For the Squirrel Hill Night Market, we provided tents, tables, and chairs for their vendors.

• For the Trans Rally, we provided our sound system and printed rally signs.

• For Celebrate America, Pittsburgh’s July 4th event, we provided our gators, radios, tables, tents, chairs, barricades and picnic tables.

In 2018, we were pleased to work with the following organization and events:

• For the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, we provided our gators, radios, tables, tents, and chairs, barricades and picnic tables.

• Working with Allegheny County Labor Council, which produces Pittsburgh’s

• We print the newsletter for the Women and Trans Defense Prison Committee.

“We are proud that our registration fees are among the lowest of similar sized Pride events.”

Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

EQUALITY MARCH The Pittsburgh Pride Equality March is without question Pittsburgh’s most colorful march. It’s a march that includes all different kinds of groups that make up the fabric of our community including non-profit partners, faith organizations, local businesses and corporations. But at its heart are members of our LGBTQ community and our allies who are proud of who they are, proud of who they work for, and proud to celebrate Pride.

“These are members of our LGBTQ community and our allies who are proud of who they are, proud of who they work for, and proud to celebrate Pride.”

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Each year, the Delta Foundation’s Equality March empowers, celebrates, and touches our community in many different ways.

Some highlights include: • The 30-year employee from PPG who was brought to tears because they could never imagine that the company they work for would be so supportive that they would participate, let alone led by their CEO. • The Pittsburgh Transgender group who proudly carried the Delta Foundation’s 10’x20’ Transgender flag for the first time allowing our Trans and non-binary community to be elevated and showcased.

• The gay assistant manager, who was so proud that his

employer received its first 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, and wanted to participate. What started as a single store idea quickly bloomed throughout the region and last year over 600 Walmart employees participated all proudly waving rainbow flags and wearing purple Walmart Pride t-shirts.

• The gay firefighter from Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department #1 who was moved to tears when his Chief told him they wanted to participate in the March. Not only did they bring a firetruck decked out in rainbow flags, but the entire group wore matching hot pink t-shirts.

• The Pride Twirling Group of Pittsburgh, a group of LGBTQ members who have a passion for baton twirling, who participated for the first time and were excited to show off their skills that many hadn’t used since their high school and college days.

THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

SPORTS INITIATIVE Pittsburgh is the undisputed City of Champions and in this town, sports rule.

The Delta Foundation has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to use the power of our sport teams to cultivate relationships and we are proud of the partnerships that we have built with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

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Pittsburgh Pirates When the Pittsburgh Pirates called the Delta Foundation three years ago about hosting a Pride night we were excited to resurrect a night out in the ballpark for the community. In 2018, 25 of the 30 MLB teams held a Pride night for their LGBTQ fans and allies.

• Working with our partners at the URA, the Delta Foundation secured the Riverwalk, between PNC Park and Heinz Field, to hold a pre-game tailgate. Over 600 community members and their allies attended and were treated to a delicious picnic buffet for just $5 plus a donated item for Homeless youth. In order to increase the visibility of our group, we installed banners along the railings promoting Pride Day at the Pirates which could be seen by boaters and passer-by’s.

• Pre-game festivities included recognizing key volunteers from various LGBTQ organizations on the field. Volunteers are the backbone to many of our organizations and they enable us to do what we do. We were proud to give them the recognition that they deserve and enjoy a relaxing day at the ballpark.

• Representatives from the drag King and Queen community were invited to carry the 20’x30’ Delta Foundation rainbow flag onto the field…a historic first for PNC Park!

• We were honored to have MLB Diversity Ambassador Billy Bean and Pirates President Frank Coonelly attend the tailgate, spend time with community members, and address the crowd about the commitment that the Pirates organization has to diversity and treating all with dignity and respect.

• The Pirate pride hat quickly became a collectors’ item and Outsports.com ran a news story which featured all the various MLB Pride hats from across the country. Readers were asked to vote in an on-line poll for their favorite and we were thrilled that the Pirate rainbow hat placed 2nd behind the Chicago Cubs!

• An invitation was extended to Families Like Ours, an online group of LGBTQ parents and parents-to-be and their families, and we worked

• The 2019 Pride Day at the Pirates game will be held on Sunday, July 9.

PIRATE PRIDE HAT The Pirate pride hat quickly became a collectors’ item and Outsports. com ran a news story which featured all the various MLB Pride hats from across the country. Readers were asked to vote in an on-line poll for their favorite and we were thrilled that the Pirate rainbow hat placed 2nd behind the Chicago Cubs!

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together to create a safe, welcoming, and shaded, space for their group to attend. The juice boxes were very popular with the kids!

Pittsburgh Pride Magazine

THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

Pittsburgh Penguins Working with the Pittsburgh Penguins through its “You Can Play” initiative, the Delta Foundation has held a Pride Night at PPG Paints Arena for two years and we are proud of the visibility that we have provided to our LGBTQ community including: • Upon arrival to PPG Paints area, fans were treated to the exterior sign lit up in rainbow colors.

• The rainbow was incorporated among much of the Penguins branding included social media pages and posts and printed materials including the Iceberg magazine.

• We invited LGBTQ organization to table in the Hallmark Highway and provide information and resource material. Participants included Persad Center, Stonewall Sports, and LGBTQ Hockey, • We invited area high school Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) groups to join us at the game. Leveraging our relationships with our Pittsburgh Pride sponsors, we asked them to donate their suites so that as many students as possible could attend. The Penguins also donated use of the Evangi Malkin suite. We had over 100 students and chaperones attend from high schools including Latrobe, North Allegheny, Seneca Valley and Clarion.

Many students had never been to a Penguins game before and it was an opportunity for them to come together, meet each other, and enjoy a special night out. As one chaperone from Clairon High School said, “I don’t understand what it is to be gay, but I love my son and I want him to be happy so I am here to support him.”

• Working with CAPA high school, we had a member of the LGBTQ community sing the national anthem prior to the start of the game.

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Riverhounds The Riverhounds, Pittsburgh professional soccer club, which plays at Hallmark Stadium has been holding a Pride Night during their season for the past three years. Soccer continues to be a popular sport among youth and hosting a Pride Night allows the message to be sent that everyone is welcome to participate no matter who you are or who you love.

• Providing a dramatic backdrop of the Pittsburgh skyline, Highmark Stadium has hosted the Riverhounds Pride Night for the past three years. In 2018, we partnered with G2H2 (Gay Guy Happy Hour), K&L Gates, Stonewall Sports and Steel Army.

• The Steel Army, the Riverhounds fan club, produced rainbow scarves, which proved to be very popular and sold out immediately with proceeds benefitting LGBTQ youth organizations.

• Game tickets were just $16 with $1 happy hour pricing before the start of the game.

• Representatives from the community carried out the 20’x30’ rainbow flag onto the field for the pre-game festivities for the very first time.

• We partnered with PFLAG to provide free tickets to the game for LGBTQ youth • Victor Aponte, a member of the community, performed the national anthem.

• The 2019 Riverhounds Pride Night will be Saturday, May 4.

“I don’t understand what it is to be gay, but I love my son and I want him to be happy so I am here to support him.”

CLARION HIGH SCHOOL CHAPERONE

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THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

WELLNESS INITIATIVE In 2012, the FDA approved the use of Truvada for people who are HIVnegative to prevent the virus from taking hold. Nicknamed “PrEP” for PreExposure Prophylaxis, the drug, taken once-a-day, has proven to be 99 percent effective in blocking HIV.

• Working with our partners at the AIDS Education and Training Center, we held a two-day testing and training session at the Delta Foundation office on HIV with 30 community members.

These volunteers went on to serve on the outreach team.

When the Delta Foundation saw other major cities in the U.S. promoting PrEP, we reached out to other AIDS Service Organizations to ask what their plans were to promote the medication to the LGBTQ community. We were dismayed to learn there were none.

• We developed an outreach campaign to LGBTQ-friendly bars and events, created Facebook events, and encouraged the community to get a “wellness exam.” With a completed exam, patients would receive an incentive of a $20 discount coupon to see the Pride concert. During the wellness exam urine and blood were collected, and each person was given the PrEP quiz to take and a discussion was held about PrEP. Several days later, each patient was contacted with their results, an appointment was made, and following the exam and based on their quiz score, PrEP was prescribed. Everyone who wanted a Wellness exam was seen regardless of HIV status, insurance status, or their ability to pay.

So the Delta Foundation mounted a marketing campaign to introduce PrEP to the community. This included the following multi-pronged approach: • We invited 30 social media “influencers” to have a frank discussion with them about PrEP with medical experts. This included what it was, what it does, who could take it, and dispelling myths around cost, insurance and co-pays, and side effects. We learned that many in the room hadn’t been to a doctor in years.

Some didn’t have a doctor. Others went to their family doctor. In most cases, none of them felt comfortable talking about their sexuality with their doctor. A few who did know a little about PrEP had asked their doctor about it and they were immediately directed to one of the AIDS Service organizations.

• We worked with our partners at Mylan to sponsor the Wellness Village at Pittsburgh Pride. There were educational tables from several specialty pharmacies in place where people could receive additional information.

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THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

Since the wellness initiative began, the Delta Foundation, in conjunction with its partners, has achieved the following results: • Nearly 1,000 people have received a wellness exam.

• 20% of who received a wellness exam were prescribed PrEP. • Patients on PrEP are now in regular, managed healthcare and required to see a doctor every three months in order to continue on the medication.

• In November, Allegheny County health officials reported a reduction in the number of new HIV cases.

• From 2015 to 2017, the number of new HIV cases went down by 30 percent and new AIDS cases were down 56 percent, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

• HIV diagnosis in 2015 were 142, 126 in 2016 and 100 in 2017.

• Pittsburgh is now home to the 2nd largest prescriber of PrEP in the United States.

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“Working with our partners at UPMC, we advocated for Central Outreach Wellness Center to get accepted into the UPMC Health Plan so that they could to service the needs of the trans community.”

THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

ADVOCACY Perhaps the most important work the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh does is advocate for all members of our community. As we believe that changes happens through conversation, much of our advocacy work is done “behind the scenes.” We continue to receive calls daily from community members looking for recommendations on resources available to them from employment to healthcare.

Our transgender and non-binary community continues to experience a great deal of discrimination from both within and outside of our community. We are proud to be a founding partner in TransPride, which started in 2010, and we have made it a high priority to listen and educate ourselves on the specific needs of this community.

We have worked to elevate and lift the trans community in the following ways: • When a transgender woman was mistreated and misgendered at one of Pittsburgh’s popular evening attractions, we held six months of meetings with their leadership and our partners at the City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission to help educate and change its polices as it relates to people whose governent ID do not match their gender expression.

• Working with our partner at Trans YOUniting we held a transgender training with the employees and volunteers of the Mattress Factory, prior to the opening of a permanent

installation featuring the life of the late Greer Lankton, famous for depicting the transgender experience.

• We were asked once again to assist with a Trans Rally held on the steps of the City County Building by helping to market the event, provide sound equipment, securing permits, communicating with law enforcement, and printing rally signs.

• We donate supplies, provide infrastructure, and work with our community partners to donate raffle prizes at the TransT-nic (picnic) held every August. Staff and board members also attend the event because we believe in the importance of showing up and being present.

• We purchased and introduced a large trans flag for the Equality March which is proudly carried by the trans community.

• We connected our partners at EQT with TransYOUniting and the Washington County Gay Straight Alliance and several events have been held with employees to support their efforts.

• We hosted and participated in a transgender training with Starbucks district managers, managers and barristas along with TransYOUniting.

• When the media received word of the first transgender officer in training for the Pittsburgh Police Department, we worked with City of Pittsburgh Human Resources department and with our partners at KDKATV so that the media messaging was positive.

• We facilitated a meeting between Senator Casey in Washington DC and a group of trans and POC community members so that they could tell their stories first-hand about the challenges the community continues to face.

• At the first Pride Night at the Penguins event, a trans community member sang the national anthem. Every year moving forward, the Penguins have asked us to identify someone from the community to sing.

• We worked with the Penguins and Persad to identify 20 trans and genderqueer youth to be invited to the Evgeni Malkin Charity box at the Pride Night at the Penguins event in 2017. In 2018, we hosted over 50 high school students and their chaperones who belong to their GSA’s at the game, many of whom have never attended a Pens game or an event at PPG Paints Arena. Many of the tickets to the game were donated by our corporate partners.

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“Conversations continue with our partners at UPMC Health Plan about working with their newly formed Trans Task Force, which will serve as a resource for staff and providers who work with the community.”

• Trans YOUniting founder Dena Stanley was the first transgender person to ever throw out the first pitch at a Pirates game.

• We have sponsored two major Pride events with the Ball Community…Ball on the Bridge and Ball on the Blvd. which brought the culture of Ballroom and voguing out and visible to new audiences.

• We facilitated the largest donation in history to Proud Haven from Pirates Charities at Pride day in 2017. In 2018, the Pirates Charities donation benefitted the Homeless Housing fund, which provides temporary housing to LGBTQ community members.

• Allegheny County is one of handful of cities that participates in the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund’s Name Change Project which provides pro bono legal name change services to low-income transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary people. Led locally by our partners at Reed Smith, we refer clients, hold workshops for the community, and promote the availability of this resource which has led to Allegheny County having one of the most successful programs in the country.

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• We continue to work with TransYOUniting to facilitate ongoing transgender training with the Pittsburgh Police Department and Persad as new recruits are brought into the force.

• Working with our partners at UPMC, we advocated for Central Outreach Wellness Center to get accepted into the UPMC Health Plan so that they could to service the needs of the trans community.

• We have arranged for numerous radio, TV and print interviews with people of color and trans community members throughout the year as the Trump Administration continues to try to erase their existence.

• We have on-going conversations with all of our partners about training their staff on LGBTQ competency, specifically transgender issues.

• We held an LGBTQ Political training workshop to educate the community on how important it is for them to become part of the political process.

• We worked with the Pittsburgh Police Department and members of the trans community to develop a Transgender Police Policy.

• Conversations continue with our partners at UPMC Health Plan about working with their newly formed Trans Task Force, which will serve as a resource for staff and providers who work with the community.

• With trans-specific care now included as part of insurance plans, we’ve identified a need in Pittsburgh for providers who are trans-competent and we are working with UPMC Health Plan to develop this area of opportunity.

• When a Norwin High School trans student was denied access to using the male or female restroom, we coordinated an interview with them, their parents, and KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin to help educate the public about the situation.

THE POWER OF PRIDE REPORT

MEDIA RELATIONS Working to keep the LGBTQ community top of mind in the Pittsburgh media scene is something that the Delta Foundation works daily at doing. We are proactive and reactive when breaking news hits that has anything to do with our community and we have excellent relationships with many contacts who are allies and want to tell the positive stories about our community. We have a 24 hour media hotline into our office and we make ourselves immediately available whenever the media calls. We use our relationships to educate and we have provided media training to some of our partner organizations so that they continue to feel comfortable in front of the camera and can act as a source for future news stories.

Without an LGBTQ specific news source, the Delta Foundation Facebook page has become Pittsburgh’s main resource for all things LGBTQ on a local, national and international level. With over 73,600 Facebook fans, we’re proud to provide a forum for the community and our allies (and yes, even some haters) to engage in a conversation. We have the 2nd largest Facebook fan page of any Pride organization in the United States (behind NYC Pride) and the 3rd largest in North America.

Depending on the nature of the story, we will ask community members to participate in the interview if they comfortable doing so and oftentimes we will attend the interview with them to make sure they feel safe and are treated with diginity and respect.

“We are proactive and reactive when breaking news hits that has anything to do with our community” Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh

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The mission of the Delta Foundation is to be a vigilant catalyst for change that produces increased opportunities and a high quality of life for the LGBTQ community.

911 Galveston Ave. | Pittsburgh, PA 15233 | 412-322-2800 | info@deltafoundation.us | pittsburghpride.org

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