Sapphics looking to find community in Pittsburgh have two thriving options via Instagram with Pittsburgh Lesbiyinz and Lesbi Friends. “Sapphic” has become a popular umbrella term that goes beyond just lesbians to include bi women, pan women, trans folks, and nonbinary people who are attracted to women—and both groups embrace that inclusive definition.
Lesbiyinz Has a Group for You
“All of our groups are run by queers in the community,” says Aerin Adams, who coordinates Lesbiyinz. There’s an average of 10-15 meetups around the city each month, and standing groups include board game nights, movie meetups, happy hours, and stoplight parties.
Drop Lesbiyinz a DM on Instagram for an invite to the parents’ group, and if you’re trans or nonbinary, you may enjoy the coffee chat. There’s a BIPOC meeting, too. “You can come with a friend, but we encourage allies to take a back seat and center BIPOC voices,” Aerin says. The same approach applies to the trans and nonbinary group.
Still can’t find a Lesbiyinz group to your taste? Aerin will help you build one. “If you’re looking at our page and wish there were more puzzle nights or movie meetups or tried all the tacos in the city, we’re always looking for people to run groups.”
You just have to be sapphic and show up. “We want your voice. There is no inner circle you must be part of. Tell us the day and time and I’ll make the flyer and people will come and people will hang out with you.”
Lesbi Friends: Community-Driven and Growing
“Lesbi Friends has been a solid partner and sounding board and support system for us from the very beginning,” Aerin says about Pittsburgh’s other sapphic convener. “We did walking groups together, movie nights together.”
The main difference between the two groups is how they’re organized. While Lesbiyinz operates primarily through Instagram events, Lesbi Friends has a seven-person admin team—Jenny, Haley C, Chris, Tori, Karyssa, Maura, and Cali—who coordinate recurring events like yoga and brunch, Sapphic Stitching (craft club), bowling nights, and monthly mingles at rotating locations.
“All the admins are here because we wanted to create the community we wanted to belong to, and anyone can do that,” the team says. When reached for an interview, all seven wanted to participate via DM response.
But the real magic happens in their GroupMe, which now has 680 members. Any member can add events to the shared calendar. “In the GroupMe, members have the ability to add anything to the calendar,” the admin team explains. “We usually have a big group get together to go to Crush Hour, pickleball with Hugh Lane, fundraisers for the Dyke march, 412Step at Belvedere’s, or various events thrown by our friends at Lesbiyinz. People can genuinely add anything though. Movies, hikes, impromptu sports, game nights, etc.”
Lately, members have been creating offshoot groups for poker nights, karaoke, and other special interests—exactly what the admins hoped would happen.
Who Is Included as Sapphic?
Both Lesbiyinz and Lesbi Friends stress that they’re here for all sapphics, not just lesbians.
“Because of our name, people will message saying ‘I’m bi and straight married’ or ‘pan and dating a man, am I allowed to come?’ I hate that the question even exists in people’s minds, as bi and pan women are the backbone of our community,” Adams says. “Your relationship status does not define your sexuality.”
Lesbi Friends echoes this sentiment: “We often get asked if our group is welcoming of people who are bi, pan, trans, nonbinary, etc. and the answer is 100% yes. If you resonate with the term sapphic, come join us.”
Getting Involved
Follow Lesbiyinz on Instagram @pittsburgh_lesbiyinz
Follow Lesbi Friends on Instagram @lesbi_friends_pgh