“It’s Just Me, Some People, And A Suitcase:” The Making of a One-Man Drag Show

For Theo Kutsko (he/they), also known as the drag artist Theocracy, their introduction to theater and drag was the same: they watched a production of the rock musical Rent and later played Toby in a local production of Sweeney Todd. "Wicked was good, but Rent was something else. I think it was because it had gay people in it," he said with a laugh.

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Seniors Gift ‘Bridges and Belonging’ Mosaic to Residents of Mosaic Apartments

Residents of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network’s Oakmont campus unveiled a new collaborative art installation, "Bridges and Belonging," at Mosaic Apartments in Oakland on Monday afternoon. The large mosaic was created by approximately 60 older adults from The Willows, Westminster Place, and Woodside Place, who painted more than 200 wooden circles, hexagons, and squares over the course of five weeks. The project began during Pride Month on June 3 and concluded in early July.

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Homophobia, Transphobia Hurt Vulnerable Kids the Most

When you’re a parent, there are a lot of potential nightmares. When they’re babies, you worry that they will suddenly stop breathing. When they’re school-age, you worry about school shootings. When they’re teenagers, you worry about car crashes. Honestly, it never stops. There is so much that’s outside of your control. It’s scary. But one nightmare that a lot of parents don’t consider is being falsely accused of abusing your child.

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LGBTQ+ Veterans Protest VA Restrictions on Transgender Care

A promise made at enlistment — that the nation will care for those who serve — has become increasingly uncertain for the nation’s LGBTQ+ veterans. On Saturday, members of Common Defense, a veteran-led movement dedicated to upholding their oath long after active duty has ended, rallied outside the VA hospital in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to voice their opposition to changes to treatment policies that have a significant impact on the care they currently receive.

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George Michael documentary concert film landing in theaters this fall

Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Beyonce, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads: They’ve all been on big screens in the past few years, to enthusiastic audience response. And here comes George Michael, with “Faith,” in IMAX. The legendary, late, gay pop icon is the subject of “George Michael: The Faith Tour,” shot in 1988 at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. The “Faith” album was unusual for a pop star at the time because Michael wrote, arranged and produced it, and this concert doc, filmed over two nights, is a time capsule and a timeless record of an artist at the height of his fame and power.

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Finally, a Queer Late-Night Hangout in the South Hills

There’s a new queer, alcohol-free late-night hangout space in the South Hills! On July 18, Nightshade Lounge officially opened its doors to the public. Nightshade Lounge is a non-profit community center located at 3019 West Liberty Avenue in Dormont, with the goal of bringing people together and providing support and resources for those in need. They offer a food pantry, clothing closet, and harm reduction and reproductive health supplies.

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Pride Nights built LGBTQ+ inclusion in pro sports over three decades. That progress is now under pressure

Pride-themed sporting events have become commonplace in North American men’s professional sports leagues. These events were introduced with a simple message: LGBTQ+ fans belong in sports. Oppositio…

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One year later, 988 still doesn’t have a hotline for LGBTQ+ youth

This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th. During Pride month last year, almost 70,000 LGBTQ+ young people sought specialized help from 988, the national suicide and crisis ho…

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Dylan Mulvaney says Trump’s criticism of her is ‘the greatest compliment of all’

This story was originally reported by Brooke Migdon of The 19th. Transgender actress and social media star Dylan Mulvaney found herself back in the spotlight over the weekend, after President Donald Trump mentioned her several times during Friday night’s rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. “I couldn’t respond right away because yesterday I had tickets to see Meg Stalter in ‘Oh Mary!,’ but now I think I’d like to say a little something,” she said in…

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Blue Moon Bar Mourns the Loss of Co-Founder Geraldine “Geri” Lupin

Pittsburgh's LGBTQ+ community is mourning the loss of Geraldine "Geri" Lupin, one of the original founders and owners of Blue Moon Bar, who died on Tuesday, July 26, 2026. She was a beloved community member whose generosity, humor, and unwavering support for LGBTQ+ people left an enduring mark on Pittsburgh. In announcing her passing, Blue Moon remembered Geri as a renowned ballroom dance instructor, a passionate liberal, a dedicated local business owner, and, in her own words, a legendary Pittsburgh "fag hag." Friends and patrons knew her for her larger-than-life personality, immaculate bright red hair, and her fierce commitment to the community she helped build.

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Scissor Sister Jake Shears producing ‘Tinderbox’

Queer history is a mix of stories both triumphant and tragic, and it’s vital that we know about all of them, even when they’re painful to revisit. That’s the case with the UpStairs Lounge, a gay ba…

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Faces & Places: A Queer Sunday out in Pittsburgh

For this Faces & Places, we aren't centering on one event, but rather a beautiful Sunday spent with Pittsburgh's LGBTQ+ community. The afternoon started at 5801 Video Lounge, where friends gathered on the patio before heading off to the rest of their Sunday plans. Among them was the Gracie Lou Freebushes softball team, which played its first season in 2016 after branching off from another softball team.

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Pittsburgh’s new romance bookstores sell more than happily-ever-afters

“I’m looking for a book where …” has become a defining phrase of BookTok, TikTok’s massive community of readers and book influencers. The request is rarely for an author or even a title. Inste…

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‘Heartstopper’ is helping LGBTQ+ fans find hope and community across time and space

Despite the success of shows like “Heated Rivalry” and “Euphoria,” seeing queer people on screen is still rare. Only 9.3% of characters on American TV screens were identified as LGBTQ+ in…

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Transgender Rights Are Not a ‘Purity Test’ for Democrats

I have always voted for Democrats. This means that for much of my voting life, I’ve been voting for people who did not support my right to marry or adopt a child or to be protected from discrimination. Granted, I was voting against people who were very vocal about seeing me as a pervert hellbent on destroying the “traditional family.”

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Seth Grove’s appointment to the PA Human Relations Commission is a contradiction Pennsylvania can’t ignore

Pennsylvania Human Relations commissioners are entrusted with safeguarding the civil rights of Pennsylvanians. They help oversee the agency responsible for investigating discrimination complaints, …

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Pennsylvania Makes $10 Million Available to Help LGBTQ+ Nonprofits Strengthen Security

As LGBTQ+ organizations continue to face threats and acts of intimidation across the country, Pennsylvania is opening another round of funding to help nonprofits improve the safety and security of their spaces. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has announced a new $10 million round of its Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, which provides funding for security upgrades at organizations that serve communities targeted by hate crimes, including LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians.

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Plant Kween Christopher Griffin is here to remind you to water yourself

If your social feed has ever stopped you mid-scroll because a monstera looked like it’s been better-tended than you have, you’ve probably already found Christopher Griffin — known to their 80…

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Home Is More Than a House: How Queer Pittsburghers Are Redefining Homeownership

If you hit a house listing in Pittsburgh, it will display at some point the protections for LGBT buyers, but facts show that there are still gaps to bridge between the legal framework and reality on the ground. That’s what mortgage advisor Mauricio Gonzalez-Roberts, from House 2 Home Mortgage, experiences in his everyday work. Mauricio Gonzalez-Roberts. Courtesy photo. Do you often work with clients from the LGBT community in Pittsburgh?

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It’s My Opinion that Counts

Tap for more crosswords What else?

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Pennsylvania House unanimously passes bill ending HIV-specific criminal penalty enhancement

The Pennsylvania House voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 45 on July 12, sending legislation that would remove an HIV-specific criminal sentencing enhancement from state law to Governor Josh …

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Tori Amos Is Still Fighting for Love

I've talked to Tori Amos enough times now that I no longer blink when the conversation drifts to witches, demons, fairies or the slow-motion collapse of democracy — often within the same sentence. Her 18th album, “In Times of Dragons,” is no exception to how her mind meanders through her own particular cosmology: a record where menopause becomes a dragon, an alternate version of her life becomes a confession and a gay man from Brooklyn exists as a witch.

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Do Trans People Have a Say in Where They Are Housed at the Allegheny County Jail?

Thursday, July 2, was a sweltering hot day at the Allegheny County Courthouse. Despite the heat, the Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board met for its monthly meeting in person. The monthly meeting…

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Is It About the Noise? Trace Brewing Pauses Drag Events as State Police Response Sparks Questions

Trace Brewing has suspended its drag brunches and bingos for the foreseeable future due to noise complaints that have prompted a response from state police. The brewery, which has consistently held many POC and LGBTQ+ events, has been targeted by the neighbors for the noise. The brewery claims, however, that the problem stems from who is responding to the complaints.

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Pride Nights built LGBTQ+ inclusion in pro sports over three decades. That progress is now under pressure

Pride-themed sporting events have become commonplace in North American men’s professional sports leagues. These events were introduced with a simple message: LGBTQ+ fans belong in sports. Opposition to them is nothing new — pushback against Pride Nights stretches back at least to 2022 — but it has escalated over the past few years. Most recently, three San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote Bible verses on their Pride Night hats…

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Sundance rejected it. Kieron Moore on why ‘Blue Film’ is finding its own way.

For queer audiences who know what it means to feel unseen, Irish actor Kieron Moore’s performance in “Blue Film” offers a rare kind of recognition: a character who isn’t reduced to his wounds, his …

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‘Bromantasy’ Is a Funny, Queer Fantasy Adventure With Heart

“Danger” just happens to be your middle name. Any fray, any tussle, anytime anybody needs help, they count on you to step in and save the day. You’re brave, smart and strategic, kind to old people, children and small animals and, as in the new book “Bromantasy” by Maire Roche, dragons. Of all the things there were to do – preserving food, keeping house for himself and his best friend Morningthall “Mo” Elmthorn, advanced skincare, and drinking at the local tavern down the road – the one thing Juniper O’Reilly couldn’t resist was a good brawl.

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DOJ, HHS, FTC, FDA: The alphabet soup of efforts to restrict gender-affirming care

This story was originally reported by Orion Rummler of The 19th. The United States is using the full power of the federal government to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth.  T…

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